Transforming Relationships into a College Scholarship
July 2nd, 2008 - byUsually when a coach leaves a program the school looks to replace him with a long-tenured assistant or someone with head coaching experience. At the very least they hope to bring in someone with name recognition to the alumni. Marquette University took the unusual step of promoting little known first year assistant Buzz Williams.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg recently detailed his climb from un-recruited athlete to head coach at a major university. His journey through the ranks mirrors the tales of many high school recruits. The bottom line is that persistence and desire can make up for a lack of initial contacts and exposure.
Couldn’t play, had no relationships, had nobody in my family in college coaching,” Buzz said. “Had to pay my own way to college, so that restricted where I could go.”
Determined to make it in coaching, he began to form a network, working as a student assistant at Navarro. Each week, he wrote letters to every coach he met, regardless of their rank or affiliation.
He contacted every Division I coach, asking whether he could work at their summer camps. A “very small percentage” replied, but the lack of responses didn’t stop the letters from coming.
“I didn’t know what to say. I just knew I wanted to be a college coach,” Williams said. “It was your typical 17, 18-year-old’s handwritten note.”
Coach X,
Hope you’re doing good. Hope recruiting’s going good.
Have a good day. I’ll send you a note next week.
-Buzz
The name at the bottom of the page didn’t mean much back then, but Williams’ persistence built relationships that helped launch and accelerate his career.
So if you aren’t hearing from the schools you want to hear from it’s time to get moving!