CoachReachHead coach or assistant coach: who should you email?
CoachReach for iPhone: find every college coach and draft your emails with AI.
Why the assistant often comes first
At larger programs, assistant coaches usually do much of the day-to-day recruiting: they read recruiting email, watch film and travel to events, then bring prospects to the head coach. Writing to the right assistant puts your email in front of the person who evaluates your position. Copying the head coach keeps them in the loop.
How to tell who recruits your position
- Read the titles. Staff directories list titles such as "Recruiting Coordinator", "Associate Head Coach" or a position coach title (for example, "Pitching Coach" or "Defensive Line"). A recruiting coordinator or the coach for your position is the best first contact.
- Read the bios. Coaching bios often say who coordinates recruiting or which positions or regions a coach covers.
- Skip support roles as the main contact. Directors of operations, graduate assistants and video staff are usually not the people who decide on recruits.
Small programs
Many Division II, Division III, NAIA and junior college programs have a small staff, and the head coach often runs recruiting. If the staff is one or two coaches, write to the head coach and copy the assistant if there is one.
One email or two?
One email works: address it to the coach who recruits your position and copy the head coach. Do not send the same email separately to every coach on a staff, and never include coaches from other schools.
Find any program's staff, with the head coach marked, in the CoachReach college directory, then use a template for your first email.
Questions, answered
Should I email the head coach or the assistant coach?
Email the assistant coach or recruiting coordinator who handles your position and copy the head coach. At small programs with one or two coaches, email the head coach directly.
Who is the recruiting coordinator?
The staff member who organizes a program's recruiting. Many programs list the title in their staff directory or in a coach's bio; it is a good first contact when you are not sure who covers your position.
Should I email every coach on the staff?
No. Send one email to the coach who recruits your position and copy the head coach. Sending the same email to every coach on a staff is unnecessary.
