Focus of lecture will be building a recruiting network

As Mike Jacobs heads down the stretch run of his seventh season as the head coach of the University of Evansville men’s soccer team, there is no doubt that recruiting has made his program one of the university’s premier athletic teams.

Of course, the fact that he might just be one of the game’s nicest and most engaging people doesn’t exactly hurt his cause. 

"Mike Jacobs’s enthusiasm and passion are infectious,” said University of Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski. “His work rate is second to none and you can see that he has brought Evansville soccer back to national prominence."

Jacobs, who is also the Vice President of Events for the NSCAA and will be the president in 2015, knows that winning at this level takes more than a friendly smile.

“Recruiting is a never-ending process that involves a lot of hard work,” Jacobs said, who has led the Purple Aces to four winning seasons in his six years, and to the finals of the 2009 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. “Coaches who are effective at recruiting are able to upgrade their teams and grow the depth of their team each and every year.

“Effective recruiting cannot be done on your own. It takes a network of coaches, players and administrators that you can rely on, that you trust and that you respect.”

Jacobs, along with several other prominent members of the NSCAA, will share some of

the secrets to building a successful recruiting network as part of a panel at the 2013 NSCAA Convention in Indianapolis, just a three-hour drive from the Evansville home he shares with his wife, Jennifer, and their four children, Katherine (14), Daniel (10), Allison, (9) and Amanda, (7). 

Jacobs’ round-table lecture will take place Saturday at 9:30 a.m. He will also participate in “The Role of Performance Analysis in Developing the College Game and Athlete” panel presented by Prozone, along with Anson Dorrance, Alan Kirkup and Marlon Le Blanc.

A longtime advocate for the growth of soccer at all levels, it is no surprise that Jacobs is so eager to share some of the secrets of his success.

“When you think about the NSCAA’s ‘Learn. Participate. Belong.’ mission, it puts you in the right mindset to pay it forward and to share and help others find success,” said Jacobs, who co-authored the NSCAA’s Chapter Six of The Soccer Coaches Bible: “Building a Recruiting Network.”

“I have been so fortunate to have some amazing mentors and role models in coaching. The idea to give back to the game that has given me so much is always an offer I can’t refuse. It’s humbling to know and witness so many other coaches that have the same belief and desire to share and actively participate in growing our sport.”

Jacobs said that his session at the 2013 Convention is ideal for the advanced youth and high school coach that want to learn how to find the “right college, the right soccer program and the right coaching staff for their players.”

“The take away for high school and high-level youth club coaches from this lecture will be how to effectively connect with college coaches and how to help educate their players on how to pick the right school from both an athletic and academic perspective,” said Jacobs, who at age 24, was the nation’s youngest head coach when he took over at Iona in 1996.

Jacobs also said that college coaches at any level will gain invaluable information from the lecture, which will encourage audience questions and participation.

“Anytime you can hear different coaches talk about their effective recruiting techniques, how they find hidden gems, how they find players that fit their system, it’s a bonus.”

Jacobs said recruiting is a process that continues all year. 

“There is no cookie-cutter method to recruiting. You don’t always recruit the same club every year. You should aspire to have a good network instead of just a feeder system, because some times that feeder will differ from year to year. You need to have your fingers on the pulse and know where to find the best players.

“After all, no matter how good a coach you are, we all know the players will win the games.”

NSCAA members log in to comment. Not a member? Learn more today.