Happy DIII Week!

As many of you know, I’ve had two fantastic experiences at the DIII level and hold DIII week near and dear each year whether I am coaching at that level or not. As a coach with experience in DI, DII, and DIII that played DII, I love the opportunities that DIII provides athletes of all skill levels to pursue their dreams.

I got my start in collegiate coaching at Rhodes College, a high academic DIII program in Memphis TN. Starting out coaching at the DIII level taught me more than I ever imagined it would. I learned how to be the most efficient data driven coach I could be to take advantage of the short fall season. I learned how to support athletes as they balanced their athletic pursuits with their other passions. Later in my coaching career, I became a head DIII coach at Canton, a state school in Upstate NY. I absolutely loved being able to say YES to almost anything that my athletes wanted to accomplish outside of softball.


DIII changed my perspective on coaching, and I will forever be better for it. Travel coaches, parents, and players - I urge you to consider what each individual athlete wants to accomplish with BOTH their athletic AND academic pursuits. Each recruiting journey is 100% unique to the individual and it’s about what the best FIT for you is!


I wanted to share some of the things I’ve been able to say yes to at the DIII that I may (emphasis on may, each program is different!) not be able to say yes to at the DI or DII levels.

• A graduating senior completed a 600 hour internship during season getting her reps in every day at 6:30am. She missed practices to make up the internship hours she missed while we traveled.
  
• We never had to say no to a major - we could always find a way to make it work.
  
•  3 two sport athletes who started in both sports.
  
• 4 players are now pursuing a medical degree.
  
•  14 players were also active in their sorority.
  
• More than half of the student-athletes have also held a job during the school year.

One of the biggest things I preach with recruiting is that everyone is on their own timeline. I’ve worked with players who went the JUCO route and committed to the school a week before classes started. With players who didn’t want to play softball in college, tried out as a sophomore and fell back in love with the game. With players who fell out of love with the game, and learned to love it again by having a little fun. With players who committed early to their dream school. With players who committed “late” (there’s really no such thing!) and realized it was the best decision they could have made. Where your friends are at in their process, has absolutely ZERO impact on yours. Everyone’s recruiting journey is different, just like their life journey will be.

Your recruiting journey, just like your life, is 100% unique to YOU. There is no “right time” to do anything let alone commit to a school (because you really are committing to the school, and not the softball program). DIII should not be considered a back up plan or a last resort, and I wish more travel ball coaches would ditch that mentality. Some of my most successful (and favorite!) mentors are DIII coaches. Some of the most talented athletes I have coached are DIII athletes who CHOSE to play DIII for their own unique reasons! Division III will always have a special place in my heart, and I will always support and encourage athletes to at least consider it as they decide what they want their athletic and academic future to look like! ​

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