Division 1 women’s basketball college coaches are paid to coach basketball. That’s their job.
But not only that, they are paid to be successful at their job. Being successful in college athletics means winning games.
College coaching is not a full time job. It is beyond a full time job. It is a lifestyle.
Work Day
College coaching involves long days of meetings with staff and players, talking/texting on the phone with high school/travel coaches, preparing for practice, on the court at practice or workouts with players, watching film and administrative tasks.
When college coaches go home, work comes home with them. There are more phone calls/texts to make with coaches and high school players, more film to watch of opponents or film from practice to review and the possibility of an unexpected call or text from a player on the team or a member on the staff.
College coaches spend a lot of time away from their family and friends traveling for games and recruiting. They miss a lot of holidays, birthdays, school functions and special events.
Season Schedule
During the season as an assistant college coach, I only got 1 day off a week on Sunday.
That 1 day a week was really half a day because by 3pm I was either meeting with my head coach preparing for a game, watching film of an upcoming opponent at home, or watching our game from the night before.
Sometimes I didn’t even get Sunday off because it had to be a travel day back home for an away game.
Coaching Contracts
Head women’s basketball college coaches have multi-year contracts.
This means they are guaranteed to be paid for their job as a college coach for more than 1 year. Typically, their initial contracts are for 4 or 5 years. If they are successful, more years get added to their contracts, which is called an extension.
Assistant women’s basketball college coaches are given 1 year contracts. They are guaranteed to be paid for 1 year only.
More Than a Game
College coaches take basketball very seriously. They take their jobs seriously. They take recruiting players seriously because it’s an important part of being successful at their jobs.
I wanted to share this background information about college coaching to hopefully give you some insight of the amount of energy and dedication it takes coaching college basketball.
Basketball is more than a game for college coaches because it’s their job.
90 Days Away
Saturday, January 20 was the 90 day mark from the April Evaluation Period (April 19-21). This is the first evaluation period that D1 women’s basketball college coaches can watch you play with your travel team.
College coaches already have it on their calendars. They are already gathering schedules from travel team coaches. They are documenting which travel teams will be playing at each April Evaluation tournament.
Once travel teams rosters become available, college coaches will be documenting which players they are recruiting are at each April Evaluation tournament.
That’s how specific, detailed and intentional college coaches are with recruiting.
Activity
How to Prepare for the April Evaluation Period
- You should already be working extra to be improved by your end of season tournaments. This means you will be an improved player for the beginning of travel basketball season.
- If you know what travel team you will be playing for, reach out to your travel coach to get your schedule.
- If you are being recruited, send your travel team schedule to the college coaches you have been communicating with.
- Start preparing your social media with, at least, the travel team name you are playing for and your travel schedule, if you have it.
- If you aren’t being recruited, at the end of your season, start preparing your season stats and a highlight video to send out to college coaches.
Save The Dates
Evaluation Period April 19-21
Division 1 college coaches are allowed to evaluate Travel Teams
Recruiting Shut Down May 6-12
Division 1 college coaches cannot have any contact with players
Evaluation Period May 17-19
Division 1 college coaches are allowed to evaluate Travel Teams
Scholastic Evaluation Period June 13-15
Division 1 college coaches are allowed to evaluate High School Teams
Evaluation Period July 12-15
Division 1 college coaches are allowed to evaluate Travel Teams
Evaluation Period July 19-22
Division 1 college coaches are allowed to evaluate Travel Teams
Evaluation Period July 26-29
Division 1 college coaches are allowed to evaluate Travel Teams and Individual players at the NCAA College Basketball Academy only
“Greatness is not meant for a few chosen people. It’s meant for those who persistently pursue their dreams every day and make that choice when they wake up.” -Kyrie Irving
Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I can help:
- How to Create a Highlight Video Women’s Basketball College Coaches will Love
- Girls Basketball Recruitment Roadmap How to get Women’s Basketball College Coaches to Recruit You
- 51 Questions to Ask a Women’s Basketball Coach Get the Answers to help find your Fit
- Skills Evaluation I will evaluate a highlight video or game footage to help you understand your skills
- 101 Girls Basketball Motivation Quotes Join 300+ who have used my book for daily motivation and inspiration
- How to Increase Your Confidence in Girls Basketball 100+ have used my book to raise their confidence, get out of a slump, or overcome a bad game
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