Recruiting Timelines
Knowing what should happen and when.
Helping Student-Athletes Find the Right College Opportunity
The college recruiting process can be exciting, confusing, stressful, and occasionally overwhelming.
Families are constantly asking:
Where should my son or daughter be playing?
Is my kid a D1 athlete?
Should we be attending showcases?
When should coaches be contacted?
How does recruiting actually work?
What role does admissions play?
How much influence does a coach really have?
At College Funding Advocates, we help families understand the recruiting process, evaluate opportunities realistically, and make informed decisions about the next step in their student's academic and athletic journey.
Schedule a Strategy Session
A Perspective Few Advisors Can Offer
Experience From Every Side of the Process
Many recruiting advisors have worked as coaches. Some have worked in college athletics. Very few have done both. And fewer still have served as NCAA Directors of Athletics.
Rick Bagby has spent more than four decades coaching, recruiting, mentoring, and evaluating student-athletes.
College Coach
NCAA Director of Athletics
Founder of NCAA Programs
Founder of 21 Lacrosse / Black Jacks
Recruiter and Evaluator
Certified College Funding Specialist
Most importantly, he understands that recruiting is not simply about finding a roster spot. It's about finding the right fit.
The Biggest Myth in Recruiting
The Best College Is Not Always The Best Fit
Many families become focused on names, rankings, conferences, or, “Is my kid a D1 athlete?”
The reality is much more nuanced.
The best college choice balances:
Academic opportunity
Athletic opportunity
Campus environment
Affordability
Long-term goals
The objective is not simply getting recruited.
The objective is finding a place where a Student-Athlete can thrive.
Understanding How Recruiting Really Works
One of the biggest misconceptions families have involves the relationship between recruiting and admissions.
In most cases:
Admissions officers are not evaluating prospects at camps, showcases, and tournaments.
Coaches identify the student-athletes they believe can contribute to their programs.
Those coaches then advocate for prospective student-athletes throughout the admissions process.
Understanding that relationship is critical.
Communication.
Timing.
Positioning.
Expectations.
All matter.
Our role is helping families understand that dynamic and navigate it effectively.
The Black Jacks Legacy
The Black Jacks became the club team of 21 Lacrosse and part of a larger commitment to developing young people through the game.
The program was about more than wins, tournaments, or recruiting exposure. Leadership, character, teamwork, friendship, service, and opportunity mattered.
The objective was never simply to help an athlete get recruited. It was to help a young person grow.
That same perspective carries directly into CFA's work with student-athletes and their families.
What We Help Families Understand
Coach Communication
Understanding how and when to communicate with college coaches.
Showcases & Events
Determining which events make sense and which may not.
College List Development
Building a realistic and strategic target list.
Athletic Fit Assessment
Matching ability, ambition, and opportunity.
Affordability Considerations
Understanding how recruiting opportunities and college costs intersect.
The CFA Principle
You Are More Than An Athlete
A recruiting opportunity can open doors.
But athletics is only one part of the college experience.
Every conversation begins with the same question:
What is the best overall opportunity for this student?
That means evaluating:
Academics
Campus culture
Career goals
Affordability
Athletic opportunity
When those pieces align, families make better decisions.
Perspective Earned Through Experience
Rick's experience extends beyond coaching. It includes service as an athlete, coach, recruiter, evaluator, athletics administrator, and mentor.
That perspective provides a broader view of the recruiting process and helps families separate perception from reality.
Because finding the right opportunity requires more than simply choosing a school.
It requires understanding how that choice fits into a student's future.
You Are More Than An Athlete
The College Experience Matters
Rick had the unusual opportunity to compete at both the Division I and Division III levels.
Over the years, he was fortunate to experience success as an athlete, coach, recruiter, and administrator.
But when asked what he remembers most, his answer has never been about records, rankings, awards, or championships.
The people.
The friendships.
The camaraderie.
The experiences shared with teammates.
And the complete college experience.
One such person was Phil Haley.
Phil was Rick's Hampden-Sydney defender and close lifelong friend.
Phil was lost to brain cancer.
Rick has said it simply:
“Phil Haley made me a better man.”
Relationships like that lasted long after they walked off the field for the last time.
Athletics can open doors. It can create opportunities, friendships, confidence, discipline and memories that last a lifetime.
But the uniform eventually comes off.
The games end.
The people don't.
And a young person is always more than an athlete.
College should help them discover who they are beyond the uniform.
Why Families Trust CFA
Because we've sat on every side of the table.
As coaches
As administrators
As recruiters
As parents
As advocates
We understand the excitement that comes with recruiting.
We also understand the challenges.
Our role is helping families see the complete picture and make informed decisions.
Ready to Explore Your Student-Athlete's Options?
Whether your student is just beginning the recruiting process or evaluating opportunities already on the table, College Funding Advocates can help your family navigate the journey with clarity and confidence.
Schedule Your Strategy Session