“Price is what you pay; value is what you get.” – Warren Buffett
If you’re a regular listener to the Significant Coaching Podcast, you know I love to wrap up every episode by asking each college coach to share their best piece of significant recruiting advice. It’s one of my favorite parts of the show because the insights are not just useful—they’re game-changers for families, athletes, and even high school administrators navigating the college recruiting maze.
I love talking with up-and-coming coaches—those coaches who have just taken their first college head coaching job or those great assistant coaches who are on the verge of getting their first lead job. Their excitement reminds me of how I felt 25 years ago when I landed my first college job. They still have that “new car smell” —pure, unfiltered passion for teaching and coaching. But if I’m being honest, my favorite conversations tend to be with the seasoned “old school” veterans. These are the coaches who’ve seen it all, done it all, and know where all the bodies have been buried. Even after all these years, they’re still teaching me something new.
This past week I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dip Metress (you know he’s a good coach with that nickname!), the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Augusta University in Georgia. Dip has built what I call a “Mount Rushmore” career at the NCAA D2 level, and you can pretty much put it in stone every year that his team will win 20-games, be one of the last team’s standing in the Peach Belt Conference, and his team will typically be the team you don’t want to see in your bracket in the NCAA tournament.
Talking hoops with Coach Metress for an hour was like how my kids feel when they get a day at Disneyland (minus the long lines). I was in hog heaven, soaking up every bit of wisdom he shared—and laughing the whole way through. He’s a “good ol’ boy” of coaching: authentic, sharp, and full of stories about the game and its players. I can’t wait to share his insights with my podcast audience because, let me tell you, they’re absolute gold.
But let me get to the part that really stuck with me. When I asked Coach Metress for his top recruiting advice, he didn’t hesitate. The first words out of his mouth were, “Families need to know that you’re going to have to pay some.”
Simple. Honest. Eye-opening.
Every week, I meet families eager for guidance as they navigate the college recruiting process. And more often than not, the ultimate goal they share with me is securing a full scholarship. But you know what I rarely hear? Statements like:
- “We just want a great fit and an excellent education.”
- “We’ll do what it takes, but we want to make sure our child is at the right school and has an amazing experience.”
That’s what I hope to hear. That’s the mindset that leads to the best outcomes—not just in terms of scholarships but in finding the right balance of academics, athletics, and personal growth.
Coach Metress broke it down perfectly. In today’s recruiting landscape, high school athletes are up against an overwhelming number of competitors. Between the NCAA transfer portal and the sheer volume of talented high school players, the pool of available roster spots is smaller than ever. There’s nothing easy about the college recruiting journey. Coaches have more avenues to find great talent domestically AND internationally than they ever have before.
That’s why families need to understand the importance of not walking away from a good scholarship offer—because it might be the only one they get. Even if it’s not a full ride, even if it requires a little more investment than expected, the experience could still be invaluable in the long run.
Coach Metress capped off our conversation with some advice he got when he was coming out of high school:
“Every school has a library, dorms, and a cafeteria.”
The point? If someone gives you the opportunity to continue playing the sport you love while pursuing your education, take a hard look at what’s on the table. It might not be the exact dream you had in mind, but it could turn out to be the decision that shapes your future in ways you never imagined. Every school has what you need, but not every school has that opportunity you crave.
So, remember: “You’re going to have to pay some.” But if you focus on the value of the experience—on finding the right fit rather than chasing the biggest scholarship—you might just discover it’s worth every penny.
If you’ve enjoyed this blog and want to dive deeper into understanding motivation and personal growth, check out my book, Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes. It can be purchased through this link: https://coachmattrogers.com/book-significant-recruiting/.
Families and school administrators can also schedule a strategy session with me through this link: https://coachmattrogers.com/contact/#. Together, we can uncover what truly motivates you and help you achieve lasting success.
