Significant Coaching with Matt Rogers

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...

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 sti...

⚾ 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 w...

⚾ 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 coll...

⚾ 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, Colora...

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 diffe...

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 ...

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...

🎧 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-awa...

🏐 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, c...

🏐🎧 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 dis...

🏐 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 perspectiv...

🏀 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 o...

🏀 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 progra...

 “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 NCA...

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...

🎙 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:
 🏀...

🏀 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 studen...

🏀 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 ...