The Observer, April 4, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 23
No recess for recruiting
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Spring is a busy time of year-not only for migrating birds and people with cluttered closets-but also for coaches recruting potential Spartans. Coaches of spring sports in particular have to juggle constant demands of their current team while allowing considerations for future teams by attending meets and games to watch recruits.
For those sports not in season, the bustle comes from answering phone calls by players that have just been accepted to Case and making contact with others to make them feel wanted.
"It's as if we're almost an extension of the admissions department. We work with kids through the recruiting process; Case isn't for everybody. We're given the opportunity to build our team because of the academic opportunities," said head swimming and diving coach Chris Conlon.
A large part of this period in recruiting deals with the back and forth commentary among coaches and recruits about financial aid. Often the deal breaker, many coaches expressed the difficulty of keeping a student who received no merit aid at Case, yet received a sizable sum from another Div. III school.
As with other stages of recruiting, one of the most effective weapons at the coaches' disposal is the campus visit and overnight. Not one coach held any qualms about having recruits over for the night in current students' supervision.
"There are just so many good places to show someone. We often take folks over to Adelbert Gym to show the history of the university. Throwback weekend is real big here and we try to show the girls what that's like," said head women's basketball coach Jennifer Reimer.
It is pertinent to note that these same prospects visit many other universities in choosing their college. Whether it be other UAA schools, the Ivy League, or other Div. III schools in the Midwest, it is safe to conclude it's a buyer's market for prospects.
Among schools in the UAA, Carnegie Mellon matches up most with Case. Volleyball coach Karen Farrell even noticed that every match she was watching, her counterpart from CMU was watching as well.
Washington University and Chicago are also closer in stature to Case compared to Emory and University of Rochester. New York University was not mentioned, for it is a radically different institution than the rest of the UAA schools in terms of student population.
"I haven't found many cases of losing kids [to other schools]. Oftentimes those interested in Case are looking for something specific. Those things like engineering are Case-specific for the most part," said head softball coach Jennie Amodio.
The pre-professional programs at Case often give students an incentive to matriculate here. Conlon asserted that often if it is between an Ivy League and the fast-track medical program, the student would pick the school that guaranteed medical school placement in a heartbeat.
Compared to other schools competing for these recruits, all coaches were positive in their assessments of Case. Strong programs, such as biomedical engineering and nursing, set Case apart and allow coaches a more effective recruitment.
With new facilities at Veale and also at NRV, visiting students often leave with positive feedback. The Village may not be representative of the first-year experience, but that doesn't stop the athletic department from showing off the best of Case.
But Cleveland as a city can be a double-edged sword. Constant precipitation and dreary weather doesn't create an enticing environment for undergraduates. Case is also expensive. Without the merit aid offered at other schools, the same student will have to pay significantly more at Case. Working closely with financial aid, coaches try to alleviate some of the concerns of the student.
Numerous coaches spoke about the "right fit" for Case. Recruiting at Case has become less and less about bringing the most amount of people that are talented to campus, and more about helping these students make a decision based on all the facts and their personality. Through the summer, fall, and spring, recruits make extraordinary changes in character and athletic skills. Not only do coaches have to cull the best people for their team out of a wide list, but the coaches also have to find the ones that will be able to apply to Case Western and be successful here.
