About this episode
Why do college coaches really ghost athletes in their inbox? In Part 1 of this two-part deep dive, Susan and Jessie break down the hidden reasons athletes get ignored — straight from Jessie’s firsthand experience as a former D1 athlete and partner of a long-time D1 recruiting coordinator. From understanding a coach’s year-round workload to recognizing when your target list is too ambitious, this episode gives athletes and families the honest truth about why they’re not hearing back. You’ll learn what coaches actually look for when they open their inbox, how evaluations really happen, and how to assess whether your recruiting strategy is aligned or completely off-track. If your athlete is emailing and hearing nothing but silence, this episode will change the way you approach the process. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome + intro to today’s topic 01:00 – Meet Jessie and her transfer story 04:40 – What athletes don’t understand about coaching careers 06:30 – How coaching responsibilities impact email response times 10:30 – Why being “busy” is a very real factor in ghosting 13:00 – The year-long recruiting and coaching cycle no one talks about 16:00 – Why athletes think they’re being ignored 17:00 – Reason 1: Missing key components in an email 19:00 – Reason 2: Your highlight film isn't helping you 22:00 – Reason 3: Asking for a call before you’ve earned it 25:00 – Reason 4: You're emailing too early (and NCAA rules matter) 27:45 – Reason 5: Top athletes still need to signal interest 29:00 – Why coaches almost never call athletes who never emailed them 30:40 – Different recruiting timelines for different divisions 32:00 – Why two athletes with the same ability may hear back at different times 33:30 – The mindset shift athletes need during ghosting Click here for a discount on our go-to, and the hands-down best and most affordable Recruiting Tool + Software we recommend every baller has to increase her efficiency in all that she does 👉🏼 PRODUCTIVE RECRUIT Want to support your baller in getting her process started and have an experienced volleyball recruiting advisor walk her through it? Enroll in RECRUIT READY: LAUNCH 🚀 Need help getting unstuck in the recruiting process? Apply for a RECRUITING INTENSIVE. Are you the DIY type? Purchase the GETTING STARTED ACTION PLAN (*note this does not come with Recruiting Software OR 1:1 support) Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram: @hey.susank P.S. If you’re an athlete with big goals, a parent who wants to support the journey, or a coach who cares deeply about your players, this podcast was made for you. Hit subscribe and come grow with us.