Significant Coaching with Matt Rogers

What happens when a coach's ego gets in the way of developing student-athletes?

In Episode 204 of The Significant Coaching Podcast, Coach Matt Rogers reflects on 30 years of coaching, the mistakes he's made, and how his understanding of leadership, relationships, and putting athletes first has evolved.

From coaching individuals instead of just teams to knowing when to challenge, encourage, listen, or simply get out of the way, Matt explores what it really means to coach without ego.

In this episode:

Your dream school might not even be on your list yet.

In Episode 203 of The Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers uses Goldilocks and his daughter’s visits to Nebraska, Nebraska Wesleyan, and Creighton to explore finding a college that feels “just right.”

Matt explains why recruits should contact 5–10 schools at every division level, respond to coaches who show real interest, and evaluate the people, academics, affordability, and opportunities behind the school’s name.

Keep your dream school on the list—but give yourself permission to discover a different dream.

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Didn't hear back from your dream school? Time to give up!

A college coach told you you're not good enough? Give up!

Your friends are getting recruited and you're not? Might as well quit!

Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? That's exactly the point.

In Episode 202 of The Significant Coaching Podcast, Coach Matt Rogers tackles the unreasonable reasons student-athletes abandon their college recruiting dreams long before they've exhausted their opportunities.

Rejection, impatience, comparison, unrealistic expectations, and the unwillingness to consider different college pathways can turn an already...

Before your child’s next sports season begins, ask yourself one question: What would make you happy?

In Episode 201 of The Significant Coaching Podcast, Coach Matt Rogers challenges parents to write down what they hope their child will experience—and how they expect their child’s coach to treat them—before playing time, wins, and losses stir up emotions.

Drawing from his experiences as a coach and a dad, Matt explores ten ways to set thoughtful expectations, support your athlete, and recognize growth beyond the scoreboard.

Topics include:

In Part 2 of my conversation with Casey Stanley, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at NCAA Division II Westminster University in Utah, we get deep into the realities of college basketball recruiting.

Casey explains why playing and developing at the D2 level can sometimes be a better path than sitting on a Division I roster—and how the transfer portal has changed the value of that decision.

We also talk about what Casey REALLY looks for when evaluating recruits:

🏀 Why defense absolutely matters on recruiting film
🏀 Why scoring alone won’t get...

Casey Stanley, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Westminster University in Utah, joins Matt Rogers for Episode 199 of the Significant Coaching Podcast.

Westminster competes at the NCAA Division II level in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), and Stanley arrives there after a fascinating journey through nearly two decades of college and prep basketball.

After 15 years at the Division I level—including stops at Louisville and Iona working for Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances at UNC Wilmington—Casey took a very different path: nation...

What does college recruiting really look like from the coach’s side of the conversation?

In Part 2 of my conversation with Babson College Head Women’s Basketball Coach Kate Barnosky, we turn our attention to recruiting—what coaches are looking for, how athletes can separate themselves, and why finding the right fit goes far beyond basketball.

Kate brings the perspective of a former college athlete and a coach who has recruited at the Division III and Division I levels. We talk about evaluating recruits, competitiveness, communication, expectations, playing time, fit, and what she wants...

Babson College Head Women’s Basketball Coach Kate Barnosky joins Matt Rogers for a conversation about connecting with today’s athletes without lowering expectations.

Kate shares how she balances empathy and accountability, why coaches need to understand the individual they’re leading, and how Babson’s three core values—Connect. Communicate. Compete.—shape everything from relationships and recruiting to practices and player development.

They also talk about adapting how we teach, building trust, creating competitive practices, learning from great mentors, and pushing athletes toward their potential while still coachi...

What happens when a coach becomes the parent of a college recruit?

Mike Klinzing, Co-Host of the Hoop Heads Podcast, returns for Part II of The Significant Coaching Podcast to talk about navigating college recruiting with his own son—and how different the process looks when it’s your own kid.

Mike and Matt discuss realistically evaluating an athlete’s ability, identifying the right level, separating the role of coach from the role of parent, communicating with college coaches, and keeping the student-athlete at the center of the decision.

Having experienced colleg...

Do we have to coach this generation differently?

In Episode 195 of The Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Mike Klinzing, co-host of the Hoop Heads Podcast, founder of Head Start Basketball, and former Division I basketball player at Kent State.

Mike has spent a lifetime playing, coaching, teaching, and talking with coaches at every level of the game. In Part I of this conversation, Matt and Mike dig into how coaching has changed, what today’s athletes need from their coaches, and what the best coaches continue to get right regardless of...

“Be where your feet are.” Five simple words that led me somewhere I didn’t expect.

In Episode 194 of The Significant Coaching Podcast, I explore four different ways to think about this simple mantra: be where you are, own where you are, be with the people who are there, and understand where their feet are.

For athletes, recruits, parents, coaches and leaders, being present is important—but presence is only part of it. Sometimes we need enough humility to step outside our own experiences and understand what the world looks like from whe...

Why did they get the offer and I didn’t?

It’s one of the most common questions in college recruiting—and one of the least productive comparisons a student-athlete can make.

In this solo episode of The Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers breaks down why another athlete’s offers, commitments and recruiting timeline have very little to do with your own. Every recruit brings different abilities, priorities, values, academic goals, financial needs and expectations to the process.

Matt also discusses what “fit” really means, why getting an offer doesn’t necessarily mean another athlet...

Episode #192 — Keirsten Sires, Part 2

Getting recruited is one thing. Choosing the right college, coach, and program is something entirely different.

In Part 2 of my conversation with Keirsten Sires, Founder and CEO of 2aDays, we dig into the research every prospective college athlete and family should be doing before making one of the biggest decisions of their lives.

We talk about looking beyond the recruiting pitch—researching coaches, understanding roster dynamics, evaluating academics and career opportunities, and learning from the experiences of former student-athletes.

Keirsten also shares how 2aDay...

Episode #191: Keirsten Sires of 2aDays — Giving Student-Athletes a Voice

What if giving student-athletes a voice could actually make college coaches and athletic programs better?

In Part One of my conversation with Keirsten Sires, Founder and CEO of 2aDays, we explore the idea behind a platform that allows student-athletes to review coaches while giving recruits and families a window into the programs they’re considering.

I’ll admit—I came into this conversation skeptical. But Keirsten challenged the way I looked at coach ratings, transparency, accountability, and the opportunity for great co...

Your kid is not special.

At least, not because they throw harder, jump higher, score more points, earn straight A’s, or have more college coaches watching them...and definitely not because a parent says and thinks that to be the case.

They may be incredibly special to you—but what characteristics are they developing that will make coaches, teachers, professors, teammates, and eventually employers want to invest in them?

In this solo episode of The Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers challenges parents to stop removing every obst...

Are college baseball recruits chasing the right things? 

Ryan Brownlee, Assistant Executive Director of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), returns for Part II of our conversation—and this one is all about recruiting. 

Ryan and I talk about how college baseball recruiting has changed, NIL, the transfer portal, realistic player evaluation, the role of parents and coaches, and why finding the right fit still matters. 

Ryan makes a great point: a recruit needs to find a school that works socially, academically and athletically. We also talk about...

⚾ Ryan Brownlee | Tough Love, Trust & the Art of Coaching 

In Episode 188 of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Ryan Brownlee, Assistant Executive Director of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), former Division I head coach and recruiting coordinator, and host of the ABCA Podcast.

Ryan brings more than two decades of Division I coaching experience to a wide-ranging conversation about what coaching looks like today—and where it needs to go next.

Matt and Ryan discuss mental health and performance, authenticity, tough love, connecting with today's athle...

⚾ The New Reality of College Recruiting | Andrew Kachel Part II 

College recruiting is changing—and the junior college route may be more valuable than ever.

In Part II of my conversation with Northeastern Junior College Head Baseball Coach Andrew Kachel, we break down the realities of recruiting at the two-year college level, the new 5-for-5 rule, the transfer portal, and why families need to rethink how they evaluate college opportunities.

Coach Kachel explains why JUCO can provide athletes more opportunities to play, develop, mature academically, and potentially make...

⚾ Building a Program a Community Believes In with Andrew Kachel 

Winning games is one thing. Building a program that an entire community believes in is something much bigger.

On this episode of The Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Andrew Kachel, Head Baseball Coach at Northeastern Junior College, to talk about how he has built far more than a successful college baseball program in Sterling, Colorado.

Coach Kachel shares how his players become part of the community through weekly service at local schools, preschools, nursing homes, and youth organizations—and h...

Season 4 of the Significant Coaching Podcast begins with Dr. Tracy Davenport, performance expert, executive coach, and author of The Sustainable Assistant Coach: Preventing Burnout and Building a Lasting Career in College Sports.

Tracy and Matt tackle a belief that has been passed down through generations of coaches: to be successful, coaching has to be a grind. They discuss why so many talented assistant coaches burn out, the difference between working harder and working smarter, the critical role sleep and recovery play in performance, and why coaches must stop treating their own...

I recently had the opportunity to join Mike Klinzing on the Hoop Heads Podcast for a conversation that goes far beyond X's and O's.

We discuss the realities of today's college recruiting landscape, the emotional challenges student-athletes face during the transition from high school to college, and why choosing the right fit matters far more than chasing the biggest name. We also explore the important roles parents and coaches play in helping young athletes navigate adversity, communicate effectively, and take ownership of their recruiting journey.

If you're a coach, parent, or s...

For the past two months, I've had the opportunity to work closely with college coaches, helping them build healthier team cultures, stronger communication, and better learning environments. Throughout that process, one thing became clear: parents play a bigger role than they often realize.

In this solo episode of The Significant Coaching Podcast, I share practical ways parents can prepare their child—and themselves—for a more positive coaching experience before the season even begins. You'll learn how to partner with coaches, encourage growth, and help your athlete get the most from every practice, every conversation, and...

🎧 There Is a Place for You | Jordan Willis on Recruiting, Fit & Communication

🏐 Florida Tech Head Volleyball Coach Jordan Willis returns for Part II of his conversation with Matt Rogers, and this time the focus shifts to recruiting.

But this isn't a conversation about rankings, stars, or chasing the biggest name on the front of a jersey.

Instead, Jordan shares his thoughts on character, authenticity, communication, fit, self-awareness, and why there truly is a place for every student-athlete who wants to continue playing at the next level.

Throughout the ep...

🏐 Building Winners Without Losing Yourself | Jordan Willis, Florida Tech Volleyball 

Jordan Willis, Head Volleyball Coach at NCAA Division II Florida Tech, joins Matt Rogers for one of the most enjoyable and insightful conversations of the year.

After leading the Panthers from a 9-win season in 2023 to a 20-win campaign and one of the best conference records in program history in 2024, Willis shares the leadership principles, culture-building strategies, and people-first philosophy that are helping transform Florida Tech Volleyball into one of the Sunshine State Conference's rising programs.

In Part...

🏐🎧 Why Recruits Should Visit Colleges More Than Once | April Elsbernd 

How many college visits should a recruit take before making a commitment? 

According to Coe College Head Volleyball Coach April Elsbernd, probably more than one. 

In Part II of our conversation, Coach Elsbernd shares her recruiting philosophy and explains why finding the right college fit requires more than a quick visit and a fast decision. We discuss culture fit, evaluating potential teammates, communicating with college coaches, the realities of club volleyball, and the important role parents and high school coaches p...

🏐 Returning Home: April Elsbernd on Leading Coe College VB

In Part I of this conversation, Matt Rogers sits down with Coe College Head Volleyball Coach April Elsbernd to discuss her journey from growing up in small-town Iowa to becoming one of the most respected coaches in NCAA Division III volleyball. The two fellow Coe College alumni explore the unique impact of a liberal arts education, the importance of diversity and perspective, international travel experiences with student-athletes, and why coaching is ultimately about helping young people become the best versions of themselves.

🏀 Kevin Clifford’s 6 Rules of Recruiting | Significant Recruiting Ep. 179 

On Part II of the Significant Recruiting Podcast, Matt Rogers is joined by Kevin Clifford to break down the realities of college basketball recruiting, NCAA Division II athletics, scholarships, player development, and what recruits and families truly need to understand during the recruiting process.

Coach Clifford shares honest insight from years of coaching and rebuilding collegiate programs, including leading Roberts Wesleyan University to its first NCAA Division II Tournament Sweet 16 appearance.

Topics include:

🏀 From Coaching Ron Artest to the NCAA Sweet 16 | Kevin Clifford

On this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Kevin Clifford, Head Women's Basketball Coach at Roberts Wesleyan University for a fun and wide-ranging conversation about leadership, culture, recruiting, mental health, and the realities of coaching college basketball today.

Coach Clifford shares stories from his journey rebuilding programs at multiple collegiate stops, leading Roberts Wesleyan University to its first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance and Sweet 16 run, and even coaching former NBA great Metta Sandiford-Artest as...

 “Auntie Dani” on Recruiting, Relationships & Finding the Right Fit | Part II

Danlynn Silva, the new Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Cameron University, joins the Significant Recruiting Podcast for a powerful conversation on recruiting, relationships, communication, and helping student-athletes find the right college fit.

Drawing from her experiences as a player, longtime club director, parent, and now NCAA Division II head coach, Danlynn shares honest insight into what college coaches are really looking for during the recruiting process. She discusses the importance of body language, communication, effort, trust, and why fam...

Danlynn Silva on Ohana & Building Cameron Volleyball | Significant Coaching

Danlynn Silva, the new Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Cameron University, joins the Significant Coaching Podcast to discuss leadership, culture, family, and the Hawaiian concept of ohana.

Danlynn shares her unique journey from high-level player to successful club director, business owner, parent, and now NCAA Division II head coach. Throughout the conversation, she explains why authentic relationships, long-term development, and family-centered culture remain at the core of how she leads.

This episode explores:
 🏐 Hawaii volleyball culture
 🌺...

🎙 Why Small-Town Kids Are Built Different | Erik Kudronowicz Interview 

In Part II of this conversation, Matt Rogers sits down with Erik Kudronowicz, Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Scales Mound High School in Illinois, to discuss recruiting, multi-sport athletes, work ethic, and why small-town kids are often overlooked in today’s recruiting landscape.

Coach Kudronowicz shares outstanding perspective for:
 🏀 Student-athletes
 🏀 Parents
 🏀 High school coaches
 🏀 College recruiters

Topics include:
 ✔️ The recruiting process
 ✔️ Helping athletes find the right fit
 ✔️ Why multi-sport athletes still matter
 ✔️ The value of small-town...

🏀 David vs. Goliath: How a Tiny Illinois School Built a Basketball Powerhouse 

What does it take to build a winning basketball program at one of the smallest schools in America?

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Erik Kudronowicz, Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Scales Mound High School in Illinois — a town of roughly 400 people with a school enrollment of around 75 students.

Over the last seven years, Scales Mound has gone 167-57 with a State Runner-Up finish and a State 3rd Place fi...

🏀 Ep. 173: Recruiting for Grinnell’s System Basketball | David Arseneault Jr. 

David Arseneault Jr., Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Grinnell College, returns for Part II of this conversation on the Significant Recruiting Podcast.

In this episode, we focus on recruiting for speed in Grinnell’s System basketball—what it takes to play in a program built on pace, constant movement, and decision-making under pressure.

David breaks down the type of player who thrives, how roles and minutes are defined, and why fit matters more than talent alone. We also discuss comm...

🏀 David Arseneault Jr. — The Art, Discipline, & Evolution of System Basketball 

David Arseneault Jr., Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Grinnell College, joins Episode 172 of the Significant Coaching Podcast for a deep dive into one of the most unique systems in the game.

In Part 1, we go beyond the surface of “organized chaos” and get into the reality of coaching System basketball—how it’s taught, how it evolves, and why it’s far more intentional than most people realize. David breaks down the defensive philosophy behind the system, how they develop rim protection and positional awa...

🎙 Division II Recruiting: The “Sweet Spot” | Dr. Michael McFarland

In Episode #171 of the Significant Recruiting Podcast, Matt Rogers continues the conversation with Dr. Michael McFarland, Athletic Director at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg, to break down what today’s recruiting landscape really looks like for student-athletes and families.

Dr. McFarland shares why NCAA Division II is the “sweet spot”—offering the right balance between academics, athletics, and overall student experience—and what recruits must understand to navigate the process the right way.

This episode is packed with practical advice on communi...

🎙️ Building a Significant Athletic Department | Dr. Michael McFarland 

On this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Dr. Michael McFarland, Athletic Director at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg, for a powerful conversation on leadership, culture, and what it really takes to build a thriving athletic department.

Dr. McFarland shares the philosophy that drives Bloomsburg’s success—Recruit. Retain. Graduate.—and breaks down how that mindset shows up every day through relationships, accountability, and a relentless focus on the student-athlete experience.

From developing coaches to improving retention and academic...

The Mental Side of Greatness with Val Whiting | Ep. 168 

On this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers is joined by Val Whiting, former Stanford All-American, WNBA player, two-time NCAA National Champion, and mental performance coach for female athletes. 

Val shares her journey from winning championships at Stanford Cardinal women's basketball and playing professionally in the ABL and WNBA to helping athletes strengthen their mindset, confidence, and resilience. She discusses the pressure young female athletes face today, how coaches can create healthier team environments, why identity and self-worth ma...

 🧠 The Mental Side of Greatness with Val Whiting  | Ep. 168 

On this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers is joined by Val Whiting, former Stanford All-American, WNBA player, two-time NCAA National Champion, and mental performance coach for female athletes.

Val shares her journey from winning championships at Stanford Cardinal women's basketball and playing professionally in the ABL and WNBA to helping athletes strengthen their mindset, confidence, and resilience. She discusses the pressure young female athletes face today, how coaches can create healthier team environments, why identity and se...

🎙️ The Reality of How Softball Coaches Evaluate | Larry Yoder | Ep. 167

In this episode of the Significant Recruiting Podcast, Matt Rogers continues his conversation with Larry Yoder, Head Softball Coach at Mount Mercy University, to break down what really matters in the recruiting process.

This is a real, honest conversation about what coaches are actually looking for, how athletes can separate themselves, and why finding the right fit is more important than most families realize.

Coach Yoder shares his perspective from over 17 seasons of building and leading a succe...

🎙️Building a Program That Lasts | Larry Yoder | Significant Coaching Ep. 166

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Larry Yoder, Head Softball Coach at Mount Mercy University, to break down what it takes to build—and sustain—a successful college program over time.

This is a real, honest conversation about how programs are actually built, what coaches go through in the early years, and how discipline, accountability, and consistency shape long-term success.

From starting with limited resources and learning on the fly...