🎙️ The Significant Coaching Podcast Season 3

Significant Coaching and Recruiting Podcast returns for Season 3 with deeper conversations about coaching, leadership, and college recruiting.

Hosted by former head college coach, athletic director, and national scout Matt Rogers, the show features honest interviews with athletes, coaches, and leaders making a real impact at the high school, college, and professional levels. With experience helping over 4,000 student-athletes reach college athletics, Matt asks the hard questions—so listeners get the answers they need to make confident, informed decisions for their future.

🎯 Fridays: Coaching & Leadership
🎓 Mondays: College Recruiting

New episodes every Monday and Friday. Full video episodes available on YouTube.

Send us a text

Support the show

📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S

Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions):

⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX

🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S

🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ

⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ

🥎 Softball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qd4PFp

📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show!

🥎🎓 Recruiting the Right Way | Coach Donnie Danklefsen (Trine Softball) — Significant Recruiting

How do you end Season 2 of the Significant Coaching and Recruiting Podcast?  A great 2-part conversation with one of the best college softball coaches in he country!  That's how!

In this episode of the Significant Recruiting Podcast, I’m joined by Donnie Danklefsen, Head Softball Coach at Trine University and a 2x NCAA National Champion.

Coach Donnie breaks down how he evaluates recruits, why GPA matters more than most families realize, what coaches actually look for in film, and why character, effort, and fit consistently outweigh talent alone. 

This episode is packed with practical insight for:

• Recruits navigating the process
• Parents trying to support without adding stress
• Coaches who want to recruit with integrity and clarity

👉 Learn more about Coach Donnie and Trine Softball:
 https://trinethunder.com/staff-directory/donnie-danklefsen/139

🎧 Subscribe now at coachmattrogers.com and join us in 2026 for Season 3 of the Significant Coaching and Recruiting Podcast and all of the Significant Recruiting tools, books, and resources, including Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes, the Significant Recruiting Launchpad, and the Softball Recruit’s Journal.

This is the final episode of 2025 and a powerful way to close the year.  See you all in 2026!!!

Send us a text

Support the show

📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S

Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions):

⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX

🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S

🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ

⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ

🥎 Softball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qd4PFp

📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show!

🥎🏆 Building Champions the Right Way | Coach Donnie Danklefsen 

What does it take to build a championship program—and sustain it for more than two decades?

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Donnie Danklefsen, Head Softball Coach at Trine University, a 2x NCAA National Champion and one of the most respected program builders in college athletics.

In Part 1, we dive into leadership, culture, and the standards required to win the right way. Coach Donnie shares how he’s led his alma mater through a transition from NAIA to NCAA Division III, built a nationally recognized program, and developed young women through discipline, accountability, and genuine care.

This conversation is about more than wins and titles—it’s about character, development, and significance.

🎙️ Episode Schedule

• Significant Coaching: Fri, Dec 26
• Significant Recruiting (Part 2): Mon, Dec 29 (Final episode of 2025)

👉 Learn more about Coach Donnie and his program:
 https://trinethunder.com/staff-directory/donnie-danklefsen/139

👉 Find recruiting resources, books, podcasts, and more:
 https://coachmattrogers.com/

If you’re a coach, parent, or athlete who cares about doing this the right way—this episode is for you.

🎧 Subscribe, share, and don’t miss Part 2 as we close out 2025 together.

Send us a text

Support the show

📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S

Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions):

⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX

🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S

🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ

⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ

🥎 Softball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qd4PFp

📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show!

🎙️ Trust the Process: Recruiting, Patience & Perspective with Karrah Davis 🏐

In this episode of the Significant Recruiting Podcast, Matt Rogers continues his conversation with Karrah Davis, Head Volleyball Coach at the NCAA Division III University of Dubuque — one of the great young coaches in college volleyball today.

Coach Davis brings a rare and valuable recruiting perspective shaped by every step of the journey. From being an All-American student-athlete at Dubuque, to learning the craft as a graduate assistant, assistant coach, and associate head coach, she never skipped steps — and it shows. In just her first two seasons as head coach, she’s led her program to a 50–15 record, back-to-back NCAA Division III National Tournament appearances, and two trips to the Round of 32.

In this conversation, we dive into:
 🏐 How she evaluates volleyball talent
 🎓 What recruits often misunderstand about Division III opportunities
 🧠 Why patience, perspective, and coachability matter more than rankings
 📈 How waiting your turn can actually accelerate long-term development

This episode is packed with insight for recruits trying to find the right college, parents looking to support without oversteering, and coaches helping athletes navigate the recruiting process with confidence and clarity.

🔗 Learn more about Coach Karrah Davis:
 👉 https://udspartans.com/staff-directory/karrah-davis/104

🎧 Explore more episodes, tools, and recruiting resources:
 👉 https://coachmattrogers.com/

Send us a text

Support the show

📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S

Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions):

⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX

🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S

🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ

⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ

🥎 Softball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qd4PFp

📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show!

🎙️ Building Culture, Joy, and Sustained Success in NCAA Division III Volleyball 🏐

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Karrah Davis, Head Volleyball Coach at the University of Dubuque and one of the great young coaches in NCAA Division III.

After watching her coach live this past season, Matt was struck by the identity of her program — disciplined yet joyful, gritty yet strategic, competitive yet deeply connected. That identity has translated into results:
🔥 50–15 record in her first two seasons
🏆 Back-to-back NCAA Division III National Tournament appearances
🎯 Two trips to the Round of 32

But this conversation goes beyond wins and losses.

Karrah shares what it’s like to lead a program she once played for, how she builds trust with her staff and athletes, and why culture, consistency, and care are the foundation of sustained success. From her love for her staff to the joy of leading dynamic young women, Karrah offers thoughtful insight into what it really takes to build a program that lasts.

If you’re a coach, administrator, or aspiring leader in college athletics, this episode is packed with lessons on leadership, culture, and significance.

🔗 Learn more about Coach Karrah Davis:
 👉 https://udspartans.com/staff-directory/karrah-davis/104

🎧 Listen to this episode and explore more coaching conversations:
 👉 https://coachmattrogers.com/podcast/

Send us a text

Support the show

📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S

Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions):

⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX

🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S

🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ

⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ

🥎 Softball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qd4PFp

📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show!

🎙️  What Division II Coaches Really Look For: Recruiting with Bet Naumovski 🏀

In Part 2 of this conversation, Matt Rogers sits down with world-class coach Bet Naumovski to unpack what NCAA Division II coaches are truly looking for in the recruiting process.

Drawing from decades of experience building championship teams at Queens College, Bet offers an honest, behind-the-scenes look at how Division II recruiting really works—why fit matters more than flash, how coaches evaluate potential beyond stats, and what recruits and families often misunderstand about opportunities at this level.

Bet also shares her lifelong commitment to advocating for equity in women’s sports and how that perspective shapes the way she recruits, develops, and supports student-athletes. This episode provides clarity, perspective, and practical guidance for anyone navigating the college basketball recruiting journey.

To go deeper, you can find Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes and the companion Basketball Recruit’s Journal at CoachMattRogers.com—tools designed to help recruits stay organized, intentional, and confident throughout the process.

Send us a text

Support the show

📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S

Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions):

⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX

🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S

🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ

⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ

🥎 Softball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qd4PFp

📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show!

🎙️ Coaching That Transforms: A Conversation with Bet Naumovski

In this week’s episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with longtime friend and decorated Queens College Head Women's Basketball Coach Elizabeth “Bet” Naumovski. Bet is the all-time winningest coach in program history and one of the most respected leaders in NCAA Division II women’s basketball.

From building a nationally recognized powerhouse to developing All-Americans, Players of the Year, and high-character young women, Bet shares the principles, competitive standards, and people-first leadership that fueled her success at Queens. She also reflects on the relationships and defining moments that shaped her coaching journey—and the lessons coaches at every level can apply today.

This is a thoughtful, grounded conversation with a coach who has spent her career transforming programs and the people within them.

🎧 Listen now at CoachMattRogers.com/podcast

Send us a text

Support the show

📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S

Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions):

⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX

🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S

🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ

⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ

🥎 Softball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qd4PFp

📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show!

🎙️ Mike Candrea on Evaluating Talent, Building Championship Rosters, and the Future of Recruiting

In this episode of the Significant Recruiting Podcast, Matt sits down with one of the most respected leaders in the history of college athletics—Mike Candrea, Hall of Fame coach, eight-time NCAA National Champion at the University of Arizona, former USA Olympic Head Coach, and one of the sharpest minds in the world of athlete evaluation.

Coach Candrea breaks down what truly matters in the recruiting process: character, competitiveness, consistency, and the ability to fit into a championship culture. He shares how his approach to scouting evolved over 34 years, what he believes separates great recruits from good ones, how NIL and the transfer portal are reshaping college sports, and why self-awareness and maturity matter now more than ever.

Whether you’re a parent, a high school athlete, or a coach trying to help young people find the right college home, this conversation delivers clarity, wisdom, and a blueprint for navigating today’s recruiting landscape.

Learn more about Coach Candrea here:
 https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/softball/roster/coaches/mike-candrea/5249

Explore more recruiting tools and resources—including Significant Recruiting and the brand-new Softball Recruit’s Journal—at CoachMattRogers.com.

Send us a text

Support the show

📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S

Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions):

⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX

🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S

🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ

⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ

🥎 Softball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qd4PFp

📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show!

🎙️ Mike Candrea: Lessons From a Legend

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt sits down with one of the greatest leaders in the history of college athletics—Mike Candrea, Hall of Fame coach, eight-time NCAA National Champion at the University of Arizona, and former head coach of Team USA Softball.

Coach Candrea opens up about leadership, culture, the changing landscape of the NCAA, the transfer portal, NIL, and what he believes the future of college sports demands from coaches and administrators. This conversation is honest, insightful, and filled with the kind of wisdom you can only get from someone who has lived excellence for more than three decades.

Whether you're a coach, parent, or athlete, this episode will shift the way you see leadership, development, and the purpose behind building programs that matter.

Learn more about Coach Candrea here: https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/softball/roster/coaches/mike-candrea/5249

Explore more tools and resources at CoachMattRogers.com.

Send us a text

Support the show

📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S

Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions):

⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX

🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S

🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ

⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ

🥎 Softball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qd4PFp

📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show!

🎙️ How Colleges Build Their Rosters: Inside the Room With Findlay’s President & VP

In this episode of Significant Recruiting, we’re giving families what they rarely get—insight straight from the top. Matt sits down with Dr. Katherine Fell, President of the University of Findlay, and Brandi Laurita, Vice President for Student Affairs & Athletics, to unpack how colleges truly build their rosters and what “fit” really means from an institutional perspective.

Most families learn too late that each coach views their roster differently and every institution has its own expectations for the type of student-athletes they want representing their campus. Dr. Fell and VP Laurita break down that process with clarity, honesty, and care.

Whether you’re a family navigating recruiting, a coach building a program, or an administrator shaping student success—this episode will expand your thinking.

Learn more about today’s guests:

🌐 Dr. Katherine Fell: https://www.findlay.edu/about-uf/president

🌐 Brandi Laurita: https://www.findlay.edu/search/Faculty-Staff?fsid=000501f4

🌐 Matt Rogers / Significant Coaching: https://coachmattrogers.com

Send us a text

Support the show

📚 Books & Recruit’s Journals by Matt Rogers

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
👉 https://amzn.to/3NbWP9S

Recruit’s Journal Series (Sport-Specific Editions):

⚽ Soccer Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3M4PFDX

🏐 Volleyball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qMLr2S

🏀 Basketball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4bxljEJ

⚾ Baseball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/3ZGbCMQ

🥎 Softball Recruit’s Journal
👉 https://amzn.to/4qd4PFp

📍 All resources also available at coachmattrogers.com

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show!