Hoops Through Life

We are taking a break during the women's college basketball season.

Athletes + parents:
I’ve been working on something over the past few months that will add a ton of value to your recruiting process. It’s going to be an all-in-one place to track recruiting questions, keep track of important information and dates, and serve as an overall resource hub. Stay tuned!

Coaches + administrators:
Part of what I do is helping coaches understand how different brains communicate, learn, regulate, and perform so they can coach every athlete on their team; neurodivergent and neurotypical alike. I’m starting a new podcast with episodes dropping the first Wednesday of November, and every Wednesday after that. It's called Every Brain on The Team. I encourage you to check it out. I also host no-cost neurodiversity-informed coaching workshops every month. In those workshops, I teach what neurodiversity is and is not, common misconceptions, and we go over your real coaching situations so you can learn what this actually looks like for you and in your practice environment. It’s open to any athletic coach and is capped at 10 participants per workshop. If you or someone on your staff is interested, visit elsebethbirman.com/workshops and sign up today.

As always, if there are any questions, feel free to reach out.

On today’s episode, we have Shellee Howard. Shellee is the founder of College Ready, a company built on a simple belief: every student deserves a plan, a champion, and a path to the right fit. With over 18 years of experience, she has supported over 2,700 students through the college process.

On this episode, we discuss:

• How she sent all of her children to college with no debt and zero money out of her pocket!
• Shellee’s discover, plan, prepare, and achieve approach to the college process
• How to go through the college process doing more than checking a box
• How to think about AI during the college process
• Why it’s important to start the process early
• Two common misconceptions about the college process

And much more!

Parents: Is your teen College Ready? Podcast

Shellee's Books on Amazon

Sign up for a clarity call with Shellee here

If you have any questions for me or our future guests email [email protected]

If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - [email protected]

Check out Hoops Through Life on:
Hoops Through Life Website
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The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

On today’s BEST OF episode, we have our most-listened-to episode ever with Coach Artina Trader. Artina has experience as an assistant coach at Allegheny College and John Carroll University. She also served as head coach at Thiel College. She is currently heading into her 16th season as the head coach at North Carolina Wesleyan University.

On this episode, we discuss:

• Athleticism, Basketball IQ, and potential
• Recruiting Twins
• Confidence while playing
• How Coach Trader and her staff use the transfer portal
• How student-athletes get on their radar
• Time management in college

And much more!

NC Wesleyan WBB X
NC Wesleyan WBB Instagram
NC Wesleyan WBB Recruiting Questionnaire

If you have any questions for me or our future guests email [email protected]

If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - [email protected]

Check out Hoops Through Life on:
Hoops Through Life Website
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Instagram
Facebook

The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

On today’s episode, we have Coach Torie Eggers. Torie was a 3-sport athlete at Nyack College (basketball, lacrosse, and track and field). She has experience in AAU and high school girls’ basketball and has coached since 2020. Torie started her college coaching career as an assistant at Rowan University, where she spent the past 3 seasons. In 2026-2027, she enters her first season as an assistant at Shenandoah University. 

On this episode, we discuss:

• The one question Coach Torie asks when she's scouting a recruit, and why she's watching the bench too
• What "pace" really means at the college level
• What to do when you're sending emails and hearing nothing back
• How coaches can spot a ChatGPT recruiting email right away, and what to write instead
• What great communication looks like to a college coach

And much more!

Shenandoah University WBB Instagram

Shenandoah University WBB Recruiting Questionnaire

If you have any questions for me or our future guests email [email protected]

If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - [email protected]

Check out Hoops Through Life on:
Hoops Through Life Website
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Instagram
Facebook

The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

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On today’s episode, we have Coach Torie Eggers. Torie was a 3-sport athlete at Nyack College (basketball, lacrosse, and track and field). She has experience in AAU and high school girls’ basketball and has coached since 2020. Torie started her college coaching career as an assistant at Rowan University, where she spent the past 3 seasons. In 2026-2027, she enters her first season as an assistant at Shenandoah University. 

On this episode, we discuss:

• The one question Coach Torie asks when she's scouting a recruit, and why she's watching the bench too
• What "pace" really means at the college level
• What to do when you're sending emails and hearing nothing back
• How coaches can spot a ChatGPT recruiting email right away, and what to write instead
• What great communication looks like to a college coach

And much more!

Shenandoah University WBB Instagram

Shenandoah University WBB Recruiting Questionnaire

If you have any questions for me or our future guests email [email protected]

If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - [email protected]

Check out Hoops Through Life on:
Hoops Through Life Website
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Instagram
Facebook

The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

Send us Fan Mail

On today’s episode, we have Camilla Hill. Camilla played field hockey at the College of William and Mary. She is the founder of Clarity Point HQ, where she supports teams and organizations in aligning their people practices with their values, driving meaningful results, and building workplaces and teams where people can grow and stay.

Note: This episode leans more toward the coach side of sport. If you're building programs, supporting athletes, or thinking about how the ecosystem around a young athlete actually works, this one's for you.

On this episode, we discuss:

• What happens on the college side when athletes arrive: the staff, systems, and support networks for student-athletes
• Why identity development, mental health, and belonging matter during the college transition
• Building team culture that supports every athlete on the roster
• Feedback systems and why they matter
• How athletes and families can spot programs where the staff is set up to see and support them

And much more!

Camilla Hill - Clarity Point HQ Website

Clarity Point HQ Instagram

If you have any questions for me or our future guests email [email protected]

If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - [email protected]

Check out Hoops Through Life on:
Hoops Through Life Website
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Instagram
Facebook

The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

Send us Fan Mail

On today’s episode, we have Karl Barkley. Karl played basketball for four years at Swarthmore College. He is the founder of D3 Direct, the go-to source for reliable information on NCAA Division III athletics recruiting & admissions, where they believe no recruit or family should have to start their college sports recruiting process from zero.

On this episode, we discuss:

• How to think about what schools are right for you
• The power of mentorship throughout the recruiting process
• Thinking strategically and quality over quantity in the recruiting process
• Debunking the "D3 has no money" myth, and how families still make it affordable
• The two biggest recruiting mistakes: starting too late and overloading your schedule
• How to actually build your college list (and lead with more than just coach interest)
• Standing out to coaches: professionalism and the power of a handwritten note
• Why persistence pays off, plus Karl's #1 rule for parents and for athletes

And much more!

D3 Direct Website

The Student Athlete Sessions (D3 Direct Podcast)

If you have any questions for me or our future guests email [email protected]

If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - [email protected]

Check out Hoops Through Life on:
Hoops Through Life Website
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Instagram
Facebook

The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

Send us Fan Mail

In honor of the school year about to start, we are re-releasing one of our student-athlete episodes. Good luck to everyone who has moved or is moving into college soon!

On today’s Bonus Episode Part 2 we have Sierra St. Cyr and Olivia Weinel. Sierra and Olivia are recent graduates and former women's basketball players from Shenandoah University.

On this episode we discuss:

- The support they leaned on throughout the recruiting process
- The importance of establishing relationships with coaches through the recruiting process
- How they prepared physically and mentally for their first year of college
- The adjustment from high school/AAU to college basketball
- How they got through “mental blocks” during the basketball season
- The process Sierra took to figure out her major
- How they deal with life without basketball

And much more!

If you have any questions for me or our future guests email [email protected]

If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - [email protected]

Check out Hoops Through Life on:
Hoops Through Life Website
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Instagram
Facebook

The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

Send us Fan Mail

On today’s episode, we have Coach Megan Yawman. Megan started her college coaching career as an assistant at Carnegie Mellon University, where, during the 2024-2025 season, she helped lead the Tartans to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history. 

This year, she was recognized as a Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Thirty Under 30 Honoree. The distinction celebrates not only on-court excellence, but also a coach's commitment to mentorship, community service, and their overall impact on student-athletes. 

Megan was recently named the head coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and will head into her first season as a head coach during the 2026-2027 year. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• Stats and what they mean and what they miss
• What she’s looking for in recruits right now
• What she would have done differently in her recruiting process
• The role of social media
• What to put in your social media profile
• Film and the pressure to post constantly
• What helps the transition to college
• Being on the right AAU team for you

And much more!

RPI Women's Basketball Recruiting Form

RPI Women's Basketball Instagram

RPI Women's Basketball Elite Camp Information

If you have any questions for me or our future guests email [email protected]

If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - [email protected]

Check out Hoops Through Life on:
Hoops Through Life Website
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Instagram
Facebook

The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.

Send us Fan Mail

On today’s episode, we have Coach Kate McCann. Coach Kate started her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Springfield College, where, over 2 years on staff, she helped the team notch 37 wins and one NCAA DIII tournament appearance. She just finished up her first year as an assistant at Bowdoin College, where the polar bears finished 25-3, advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, and finished the season ranked 11th in the final Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) poll. This year, Coach Kat earned a spot on the WBCA’s 30 under 30 team for the 25-26 season. The distinction celebrates not only on-court excellence, but also a coach's commitment to mentorship, community service, and their overall impact on student-athletes.

On this episode, we discuss:

• What Coach McCann would do differently if she were going through the recruiting process today
• How to stand out in your communication with coaches
• The timeline of communication with college coaches and what you can expect at each phase
• How current athletes at an institution are involved in the recruiting process
• How the conference and the institution can impact the recruiting process
• How to prepare for your first year of college

And much more!

Bowdoin Recruiting Questionnaire

Bowdoin WBB Instagram

Bowdoin Elite Camp Sign-Up

If you have any questions for me or our future guests email [email protected]

If you're interested in connecting or working together, let's have a conversation - send me an email today - [email protected]

Check out Hoops Through Life on:
Hoops Through Life Website
X
Instagram
Facebook

The views and opinions shared by coaches and other professionals on this podcast are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Hoops Through Life. Hoops Through Life is an independent entity, not affiliated with any school or coach, and is not responsible for the opinions expressed by these individuals.