This chapter shatters Myth #2 and Myth #4 (see page 5 for a
list of myths). The recruiting process is fundamentally unfair.
It is unfair for many reasons, but the primary ones are money
and winning. This unfairness impacts college coaches, pros-
pects and their families, and high-school coaches. College
coaches have to win to keep their jobs. No matter how this
fact is shaded, colored, coated, nuanced, veiled, or denied—it
is fundamental.
It is the wellspring of the unfairness in the recruiting pro-
cess. College coaches coach for a reason; they do it because
they love it. There may be a few exceptions, but not many.
Very, very, very few coaches make the big money of the highly
visible basketball and football coaches you hear about.
No matter what sport they coach, when their team competes
against another team, the score of the contest is kept. The win-
ner and loser are easily identified. If the coach’s team loses too
often, the coach will be dismissed (fired). If a coach is fired, it
usually means he/she will no longer have the opportunity to
enjoy the experience of coaching. He/she will no longer get
paid (usually for much less than what they are worth) for doing
what he/she loves to do. The pressure on coaches to win is as
intense today as it has ever been in college athletics. (Note the
chapter 1
Understanding the
Recruiting Process