13 October 2025
83: What Data from over 200 College Coaches tells us about Recruiting
Inside College Soccer
About
In this episode, Don Williams of SRUSA sat down with Matt Anderson and Matt Baehr, who each surveyed nearly 200 college soccer coaches, to uncover what truly shapes college recruiting today.
Matt Anderson (Manchester Metropolitan University, UK)
His research focused on player identification, qualities coaches value most, and talent development pathways. He shared insights into what separates a recruitable athlete from the rest, emphasizing skill acquisition, psychological factors, and long-term growth.
Matt Baehr (Discover College Soccer)
His survey explored the recruiting ecosystem—where coaches recruit from, how they allocate budgets, staffing sizes, and trends in scouting. His findings highlight the practical realities of recruiting logistics and the environments where players are most visible to college coaches.
Together, the discussion gave families and athletes a 360-degree view of how college coaches evaluate talent and operate within their recruiting frameworks.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the U.S. college soccer pathway—parents, players, and coaches alike—because it combines data-driven insights with on-the-ground realities.
🔗 Connect with the Guests
Matt Baehr — Discover College Soccer
Website: www.discovercollegesoccer.com
X (Twitter): www.x.com/Discover_CS
Instagram: www.instagram.com/discover_cs
Facebook: Discover College Soccer
Matt Anderson — Manchester Metropolitan University
X (Twitter): www.x.com/MatthewAndrew23
Email: Matthew.andrew@mmu.ac.uk
Role: PhD, Senior Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Psychology (focus: skill acquisition, talent ID & development)
This episode is brought to you by Sports Recruiting USA (SRUSA), the College Soccer Recruiting Experts.
🌐 Check us out online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sportsrecruitingusa
X (Twitter): https://www.twitter.com/SRUSA_Official
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sportsrecruitingusa
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@sportsrecruitingusa
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@collegesoccer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/sportsrecruitingusa
Website: https://www.sportsrecruitingusa.com/
Matt Anderson (Manchester Metropolitan University, UK)
His research focused on player identification, qualities coaches value most, and talent development pathways. He shared insights into what separates a recruitable athlete from the rest, emphasizing skill acquisition, psychological factors, and long-term growth.
Matt Baehr (Discover College Soccer)
His survey explored the recruiting ecosystem—where coaches recruit from, how they allocate budgets, staffing sizes, and trends in scouting. His findings highlight the practical realities of recruiting logistics and the environments where players are most visible to college coaches.
Together, the discussion gave families and athletes a 360-degree view of how college coaches evaluate talent and operate within their recruiting frameworks.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the U.S. college soccer pathway—parents, players, and coaches alike—because it combines data-driven insights with on-the-ground realities.
🔗 Connect with the Guests
Matt Baehr — Discover College Soccer
Website: www.discovercollegesoccer.com
X (Twitter): www.x.com/Discover_CS
Instagram: www.instagram.com/discover_cs
Facebook: Discover College Soccer
Matt Anderson — Manchester Metropolitan University
X (Twitter): www.x.com/MatthewAndrew23
Email: Matthew.andrew@mmu.ac.uk
Role: PhD, Senior Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Psychology (focus: skill acquisition, talent ID & development)
This episode is brought to you by Sports Recruiting USA (SRUSA), the College Soccer Recruiting Experts.
🌐 Check us out online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sportsrecruitingusa
X (Twitter): https://www.twitter.com/SRUSA_Official
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sportsrecruitingusa
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@sportsrecruitingusa
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@collegesoccer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/sportsrecruitingusa
Website: https://www.sportsrecruitingusa.com/