By Michael Worrell
Staff Writer
Athletic recruiting at Bryan College is a holistic process, taking into consideration every facet of each potential recruit’s life, not just their athletic ability.
It starts in high school, said Taylor Hasty, director of athletics at Bryan. Exactly what year, whether sophomore or senior, depends on the sport.
What he emphasized, however, was that they look at three areas to determine whether or not to invite someone to join the team: Athletic talent, spiritual maturity and academic competency.
Every coach does things a little differently, but Head Women’s Volleyball Coach David Shumaker uses the metaphor of a funnel to describe how he recruits players.
Once he has names of potential players, he first determines if they are qualified athletically, then he finds out about their academic performance to ensure that they can succeed in a college environment. Character assessment comes last.
Hasty said that coaches talk to the athletes, their parents and others that essentially function as character references to ensure that the player will be able to fit into the Bryan community. Athletes do not have to be Christians to be invited onto the team, but they do need to be respectful enough to consider the possibility, or at least be willing to abide by the rules of the college.
Due to budget constraints, international recruiting is less personal, and coaches rely on contacts such as traveling teams that reach out to colleges and athletes. These organizations rely on their reputation to continue operating, so coaches can learn over time which ones are worth maintaining relations with.
Although every coach recruits differently, each one places emphasis on how prospective athletes will integrate to the Bryan community, and many athletes have come to Christ as a result of the opportunity to attend and play for the college, according to Hasty.
Despite their efforts and successes, however, not every student responds the same way. One of Shumaker’s former assistant coaches that had played on the team told him that during their initial conversation all she heard was “‘bla bla bla, scholarship, bla bla bla, playing time.”
Hasty said it is an honor to be part of a place that takes faith seriously, and that he is grateful for the opportunity to present the gospel through his introduction of the college to athletes and their families, even if they ultimately decide not to attend Bryan.
