The NIL NorthStar Playbook Podcast
Guiding Parents and Athletes Through the New Age of NIL, Recruiting, and Reality. Hosted by Marc Nolan, the nation’s longest-serving kicking and punting coach — and the man who’s helped over 4,000 athletes earn more than $275 million in scholarships in several high school sports Marc first learned the power of a NorthStar during his Army days — when that single light guided him and his team out of the swamp and back to solid ground. Now, he uses that same guiding principle to help parents and athletes navigate the swamp of today’s recruiting world — the confusion, the hype, the NIL chaos — and find clarity, direction, and integrity. Each episode blends humor, hard truth, and heart — tackling NIL, the transfer portal, recruiting realities, communication skills, and mental resilience. Because in this new Wild West of college athletics, you don’t need a spotlight — you need a NorthStar.
Episodes
Coach Marc Nolan explains the 'AHA' (Aligned Honest Assessment) — why local praise can create a false sense of readiness and how national camps reveal true comparative standing. He warns against the 'big fish in a small pond' trap and the 'drill work delusion' where belief replaces preparation.
Coach Nolan shares his process of sending candid evaluations to parents and camp evaluators so families aren't blindsided, and urges parent...
Coach Marc Nolan warns that senior year is the start of a new, more demanding phase—not a victory lap. In today’s NIL and transfer-portal era, athletes must stay prepared physically, academically, and mentally after signing day to avoid losing scholarships, entering the portal, or becoming a short-lived college athlete.
This episode explains the SHU (Stay Home University) and In-N-Out Athlete categories, the hidden costs families f...
Coach Mark Nolan breaks down why junior year is the most critical, high-pressure year for high school athletes and parents. He explains the importance of academics, realistic college lists, strategic camp decisions, developing athlete responsibility, and using AI tools like ChatGPT as a co-pilot — not a replacement — alongside experienced human guidance.
Learn practical non-negotiables: know your core GPA, set ACT/SAT dates, create...
Coach Marc Nolan announces NIL North Star, a free private community for parents and high school athletes seeking clear, practical guidance on college recruiting, NIL, and the transfer portal.
Members receive weekly insights, checklists, recruiting guidance, and honest conversations; the existing LinkedIn group is closing soon, so email or text Coach Nolan to request your private invitation.
Coach Marc Nolan breaks down sophomore year as the pivotal development year in the four-year high school roadmap. Learn how this quieter transition increases responsibilities, exposes skill gaps, and sets the trend for academics and athletics.
This episode covers the sophomore stall, strategic sport prioritization vs. multi-sport myths, injury-prevention tools like functional movement screening, film and exposure strategies, and th...
Coach Marc Nolan explains why freshman year is the most important and misunderstood year for high school athletes, focusing on the sudden jump in speed, size, and expectations when moving from middle school to high school.
He outlines practical steps: prioritize movement mechanics over raw power, build strong study habits and a four-year academic plan, film for self-assessment, play multiple sports, and learn communication and resi...
Coach Marc Nolan previews the relaunched Sports Parents University four-year roadmap, updated for NIL, the transfer portal, and current college recruiting realities.
He outlines clear, year-by-year actions for freshmen through seniors — academics, athletic development, communication, branding, campus visits, and NIL readiness — and announces upcoming live Bleacher Hours and the NIL North Star community starting in January.
Coach Marc Nolan breaks down the new ChatStar rating system and exposes recruiting myths, explaining the five pillars that truly matter: athletic performance, academics, communication/character, social media/brand, and competitive readiness.
He discusses why camp invites can be sales pitches, how to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse, and offers practical steps for parents and athletes to earn genuine recruiting stars rather than...
In "Eggs, Espresso, and Exposure," Coach MarkcNolan examines how youth sports quietly grew into a $40 billion industry — from rising gear and showcase fees to NCAA changes like the transfer portal and NIL that turned recruiting into a pay-to-play marketplace.
He calls out quick-fix "D1" promises, highlights the real cost to families, and urges parents to consider true ROI — character, health, and long-term opportunity — rather than...
Coach Marc Nolan cuts through the NIL hype to give high school parents and athletes a clear playbook for navigating recruiting and NIL in today’s changed landscape. Using a "Pokémon Go" analogy, he explains why chasing every offer or camp is dangerous and why strategy matters more than chasing likes.
Learn the three fundamentals—communication, credibility, and consistency—how to spot fake camps and costly promises, and get a free p...
Coach Marc Nolan breaks down the recruiting illusion using Venn diagrams—parent hopes, Uncle Ed nostalgia, coach opinions, ranking camps—and the reality where fit, grades, timing, and communication determine scholarship opportunities.
He urges families to focus on data-driven strategy over star-chasing, improve communication, and offers a free go/no-go framework to help athletes find the right level and path forward.
Coach Marc Nolan breaks down the NIL belief gap between anxious parents and hesitant high school athletes, sharing survey results and real-world stories that show why many youths are missing local NIL opportunities.
He outlines a simple three-step approach—Trust, Teach, Test—plus practical homework to help athletes build authentic, college-ready social profiles while parents step back and provide supportive guidance.
Listeners are ...
Coach Marc Nolan explores the recruiting world in Episode 3 — a lively comparison between working at an ice cream shop and earning through NIL deals. He breaks down the practical lessons, financial realities (including taxes), and long-term benefits of building a personal brand versus a traditional summer job.
Whether you’re a parent or an athlete, this episode argues that NIL teaches modern skills like marketing, contract literacy...
Coach Marc Nolan breaks down how the rise of foreign-born athletes, transfer rules, and NIL changes are shrinking college roster opportunities for U.S. high school players. He explains visa and recruiting trends, roster caps, and why many families are being outfunded and outrecruited.
Practical advice for High School parents and athletes: reassess your financial plan, focus on getting bigger/faster/stronger, set realistic expectati...
Coach Marc Nolan exposes the real, often-overlooked costs of youth and high school sports — from cleats and camps to travel, supplements, and recruiting fees — and explains why NIL (name, image, likeness) opportunities matter for young athletes IN HIGH SCHOOL and their families.
He offers practical advice for parents to budget, hold athletes accountable, explore NIL as earned income, and prepare with tools like an expense spreadshe...
Coach Mark Nolan breaks down the Athlete Intelligence Report, teaching parents and high school athletes how to separate recruiting facts from hype, evaluate roster fit with his "eye chart" method, and focus on habits that build real college opportunities.
He explains the limitations of star rankings and recruiting services, the impact of the transfer portal, and offers a free two-minute checklist to help families make smarter, mone...
Coach Mark Nolan dives into the problem of ego-driven coaching in high school sports, contrasting three coach types — politician, survival, and servant — and honoring the legacy of his mentor, Coach Jim Horner.
He shares real stories of favoritism, booster politics, and the rise of private coaching, and urges parents and coaches to demand development, restore trust, and prioritize kids over power and profit.
Coach Mark Nolan likens the modern NIL and transfer portal landscape to a rigged game of Monopoly, where the NCAA, collectives, boosters, agents, and streaming giants control the board while student-athletes and parents face confusion and risk.
He breaks down the players, pitfalls, and hidden costs, and introduces a nine-module NIL video roadmap designed to give parents clarity, protect athletes, and offer practical strategies for ...
In this episode we talk with Balint about his rise from youth soccer and local Hornets football to becoming a D1 scholarship kicker at Georgia State. He shares the moment he knew kicking was his path, the Gatlinburg breakthrough, and how national camps shaped his recruiting.
Balint outlines the daily work—stretching, plyometrics, weight training, hydration—and the importance of competing at camps, building relationships with coach...
Coach Mark Nolan interviews Johnny Genty, a top high school punter from Blessed Trinity Catholic High School who recently accepted a full scholarship to Georgia Tech. Johnny shares his journey from soccer and basketball to becoming an All-American punter, the importance of private coaching, camp strategies, building relationships with college coaches, and managing the recruiting stress alongside family support.
He offers practical ...
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