Recruiting

Western Michigan University women's soccer head coach, Lewis Robinson, sat down with We Are Soccer to discuss the 2025 season, the 2026 recruiting class and the quick impact and success Lewis has had!! Lewis also shares how great it is to be around an ambitious coach like Chad Wiseman who has built an extremely successful men's soccer program at WMU.

Don Williams sat down with Jamie Clark, Head Coach of the University of Washington men’s soccer program and reigning NCAA National Champion, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, recruiting, and the evolving future of college soccer. Coach Clark shared his unique journey through the game, from his playing career at Stanford and in the professional ranks to his steady rise through the college coaching landscape. He also reflected on his rare place in NCAA history - one of only two father-son duos to coach Division I men’s soccer. His father, Bobby Clark, is a legendary figure in the sport and a national champion at Notre Dame, making coaching excellence a true family legacy. The conversation explored major shifts facing the college game, including the proposed 21st-century model for a year-round college soccer calendar. Coach Clark offered insight into discussions among elite Division I programs about competing at a higher, more professionalized level and what that could mean for player development, recruiting, and the future pipeline to the pro game. On recruiting, Clark emphasized his strong belief in local and domestic talent, outlining how Washington prioritizes identifying players who fit the program culturally and developmentally - not just physically. He broke down his recruiting philosophy, stressing patience, long-term growth, and trust in the development process. A standout example was the story of former Husky Ryan Sailor, who had logged just 30 minutes of playing time heading into his senior year before earning significant opportunities, getting drafted into MLS, and launching a professional career. The story underscored Clark’s core message: development is rarely linear, and persistence, patience, and belief can change everything. This episode offers valuable insight for recruits, parents, coaches, and anyone interested in where college soccer is headed - straight from one of the most respected voices in the game.

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: [email protected] 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/