Ask The Experts
Roundtable: Coaches On Off-Court Factors in Recruiting
by James Hill, 14 June 2016
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College tennis players have a lot of responsibilities. In addition to consistently turning in top performances on the court, they also have to deal with academics while also working closely with their teammates and coaches. How do these factors influence coaches in recruiting?
We consulted a panel of respected coaches - asking them the following questions to gauge what they look for in recruits - going beyond just their playing ability.
Q) What off-court qualities do you look for in a recruit? What is important to you, as a coach, concerning the demeanor and attitude of a recruit?
Chase Hodges, head coach, Georgia Gwinnett Men and Women
I look for a recruit who is active in the community - as well as one who is highly motivated to be successful in life. It is important that the recruit is a great student academically so that I know he or she can handle all of the time demands of being a top student-athlete.
I look for a recruit to have a confident demeanor. It's highly important that his or her attitude is one where they believe in themselves. It is also important that the recruits are able to speak up for themselves - as opposed to letting their parents do the majority of the communication.
Lele Forood, head coach, Stanford Women
I look for high character and honesty, the ability to get along with others easily, and the desire to further the legacy of the program.
Attitude-wise, they will continue to grow during college, so being somewhat open minded is important, alongside determination, self-awareness, and the ability to not take everything too seriously!
