Significant Coaching with Matt Rogers

🏐 Returning Home: April Elsbernd on Leading Coe College VB

In Part I of this conversation, Matt Rogers sits down with Coe College Head Volleyball Coach April Elsbernd to discuss her journey from growing up in small-town Iowa to becoming one of the most respected coaches in NCAA Division III volleyball. The two fellow Coe College alumni explore the unique impact of a liberal arts education, the importance of diversity and perspective, international travel experiences with student-athletes, and why coaching is ultimately about helping young people become the best versions of themselves.

Coach Elsbernd also shares her path from the University of Dubuque to Augsburg University and ultimately back home to Coe College, where she now leads the Kohawk volleyball program.

🏐 In this episode:
 ✅ Returning home to Coe College
 ✅ Why coaching is a calling
 ✅ Building culture through relationships
 ✅ The impact of international travel on student-athletes
 ✅ Leadership lessons learned over 15+ years as a head coach
 ✅ Helping athletes grow beyond the game

🎧 Listen to the Significant Coaching Podcast:
 https://coachmattrogers.com/podcast

📚 Subscribe for full access to weekly blogs, newsletters, recruiting resources, coaching tools, and leadership content:
 https://coachmattrogers.com

Send us Fan Mail

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes

Don't rely on mere chance.  Be significant with your future.

The easy 12-step book to owning your college recruitment.

Get your copy here at Amazon.com

Also, check out the companion workbooks The Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Softball and Volleyball Recruit's Journals at coachmattrogers.com or amazon.com.

Support the show

📰 Join my Recruiting and Coaching Community and get my FREE Weekly Newsletter at coachmattrogers.com

📆 Need help with your children's college recruiting needs?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss working together:  Schedule FREE Recruiting Session

🎤 Does your school or organization need help with Recruiting Realities and College Athletics Education?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss bringing Coach Matt to speak:  Schedule FREE Speaker Discovery Call

📚 Do you want to handle your college recruiting on your own but would like a plan to follow?  Click HERE to get your copy of the Significant Recruiting Playbook and your Sport Specific Recruit's Journal for baseball, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball.

📺 Do you wish their was an inexpensive, simple step-by-step recruiting class series you could follow?  Click HERE to get full access to the Significant Recruiting Launchpad.

🏀 Kevin Clifford’s 6 Rules of Recruiting | Significant Recruiting Ep. 179 

On Part II of the Significant Recruiting Podcast, Matt Rogers is joined by Kevin Clifford to break down the realities of college basketball recruiting, NCAA Division II athletics, scholarships, player development, and what recruits and families truly need to understand during the recruiting process.

Coach Clifford shares honest insight from years of coaching and rebuilding collegiate programs, including leading Roberts Wesleyan University to its first NCAA Division II Tournament Sweet 16 appearance.

Topics include:

•  What college coaches really evaluate 
•  NCAA Division II vs Division I vs Division III 
•  Scholarship realities 
•  Leadership and culture 
•  Mental health and player support 
•  What recruits misunderstand about recruiting 
•  The importance of fit over labels 
•  How families should approach the recruiting process 
•  Player development in today’s game 

If you’re a recruit, parent, coach, or athletic director, this episode provides outstanding perspective on navigating modern college athletics.

🎧 Listen to the podcast:
 coachmattrogers.com/podcast

▶️ Watch more episodes:
 Coach Matt Rogers YouTube Channel

Suggested Chapters

00:00 Introduction
 01:45 What Coaches Really Look For in Recruits
 06:20 NCAA D1 vs D2 vs D3 Basketball
 11:15 Scholarship Realities Explained
 16:10 Recruiting Mistakes Families Make
 21:30 Player Development in College Basketball
 26:00 Mental Health & Athlete Support
 31:40 Why Fit Matters More Than Labels
 36:10 Leadership & Team Culture
 41:00 Final Recruiting Advice

Send us Fan Mail

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes

Don't rely on mere chance.  Be significant with your future.

The easy 12-step book to owning your college recruitment.

Get your copy here at Amazon.com

Also, check out the companion workbooks The Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Softball and Volleyball Recruit's Journals at coachmattrogers.com or amazon.com.

Support the show

📰 Join my Recruiting and Coaching Community and get my FREE Weekly Newsletter at coachmattrogers.com

📆 Need help with your children's college recruiting needs?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss working together:  Schedule FREE Recruiting Session

🎤 Does your school or organization need help with Recruiting Realities and College Athletics Education?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss bringing Coach Matt to speak:  Schedule FREE Speaker Discovery Call

📚 Do you want to handle your college recruiting on your own but would like a plan to follow?  Click HERE to get your copy of the Significant Recruiting Playbook and your Sport Specific Recruit's Journal for baseball, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball.

📺 Do you wish their was an inexpensive, simple step-by-step recruiting class series you could follow?  Click HERE to get full access to the Significant Recruiting Launchpad.

🏀 From Coaching Ron Artest to the NCAA Sweet 16 | Kevin Clifford

On this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Kevin Clifford, Head Women's Basketball Coach at Roberts Wesleyan University for a fun and wide-ranging conversation about leadership, culture, recruiting, mental health, and the realities of coaching college basketball today.

Coach Clifford shares stories from his journey rebuilding programs at multiple collegiate stops, leading Roberts Wesleyan University to its first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance and Sweet 16 run, and even coaching former NBA great Metta Sandiford-Artest as a 15-year-old coach.

The conversation also dives into:

•  Building belief inside a program 
•  Mental Health Mondays 
•  Relationships in coaching 
•  NCAA Division II basketball 
•  Recruiting realities 
•  Leadership growth 
•  Old-school hip-hop and DJ life 
•  The changing landscape of college athletics 

Find more coaching and recruiting resources at coachmattrogers.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes

Don't rely on mere chance.  Be significant with your future.

The easy 12-step book to owning your college recruitment.

Get your copy here at Amazon.com

Also, check out the companion workbooks The Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Softball and Volleyball Recruit's Journals at coachmattrogers.com or amazon.com.

Support the show

📰 Join my Recruiting and Coaching Community and get my FREE Weekly Newsletter at coachmattrogers.com

📆 Need help with your children's college recruiting needs?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss working together:  Schedule FREE Recruiting Session

🎤 Does your school or organization need help with Recruiting Realities and College Athletics Education?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss bringing Coach Matt to speak:  Schedule FREE Speaker Discovery Call

📚 Do you want to handle your college recruiting on your own but would like a plan to follow?  Click HERE to get your copy of the Significant Recruiting Playbook and your Sport Specific Recruit's Journal for baseball, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball.

📺 Do you wish their was an inexpensive, simple step-by-step recruiting class series you could follow?  Click HERE to get full access to the Significant Recruiting Launchpad.

 “Auntie Dani” on Recruiting, Relationships & Finding the Right Fit | Part II

Danlynn Silva, the new Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Cameron University, joins the Significant Recruiting Podcast for a powerful conversation on recruiting, relationships, communication, and helping student-athletes find the right college fit.

Drawing from her experiences as a player, longtime club director, parent, and now NCAA Division II head coach, Danlynn shares honest insight into what college coaches are really looking for during the recruiting process. She discusses the importance of body language, communication, effort, trust, and why families need to stop focusing only on Division I labels and start focusing on fit, growth, and long-term happiness.

This episode also explores the Hawaiian concept of relationships and family culture, including why Danlynn prefers her athletes call her “Auntie” instead of “Coach.”

Topics include:
 🏐 What college coaches notice immediately
 📧 How recruits should communicate with coaches
 👀 What stands out during evaluations
 🌺 Hawaii culture and relationship-building
 🎓 Why fit matters more than division
 👨‍👩‍👧 Advice for parents, club coaches, and recruits

🎧 Listen at:
 coachmattrogers.com/podcast

📺 Watch at:
 youtube.com/@CoachMattRogers

Send us Fan Mail

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes

Don't rely on mere chance.  Be significant with your future.

The easy 12-step book to owning your college recruitment.

Get your copy here at Amazon.com

Support the show

📰 Join my Recruiting and Coaching Community and get my FREE Weekly Newsletter at coachmattrogers.com

📆 Need help with your children's college recruiting needs?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss working together:  Schedule FREE Recruiting Session

🎤 Does your school or organization need help with Recruiting Realities and College Athletics Education?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss bringing Coach Matt to speak:  Schedule FREE Speaker Discovery Call

📚 Do you want to handle your college recruiting on your own but would like a plan to follow?  Click HERE to get your copy of the Significant Recruiting Playbook and your Sport Specific Recruit's Journal for baseball, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball.

📺 Do you wish their was an inexpensive, simple step-by-step recruiting class series you could follow?  Click HERE to get full access to the Significant Recruiting Launchpad.

Danlynn Silva on Ohana & Building Cameron Volleyball | Significant Coaching

Danlynn Silva, the new Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Cameron University, joins the Significant Coaching Podcast to discuss leadership, culture, family, and the Hawaiian concept of ohana.

Danlynn shares her unique journey from high-level player to successful club director, business owner, parent, and now NCAA Division II head coach. Throughout the conversation, she explains why authentic relationships, long-term development, and family-centered culture remain at the core of how she leads.

This episode explores:
 🏐 Hawaii volleyball culture
 🌺 Building a program around “ohana”
 📈 Athlete development and leadership
 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Coaching alongside family
 🎯 Creating sustainable program culture
 💬 Why her non-traditional path prepared her for this opportunity

Send us Fan Mail

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes

Don't rely on mere chance.  Be significant with your future.

The easy 12-step book to owning your college recruitment.

Get your copy here at Amazon.com

Also, check out the companion workbooks The Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Softball and Volleyball Recruit's Journals at coachmattrogers.com or amazon.com.

Support the show

📰 Join my Recruiting and Coaching Community and get my FREE Weekly Newsletter at coachmattrogers.com

📆 Need help with your children's college recruiting needs?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss working together:  Schedule FREE Recruiting Session

🎤 Does your school or organization need help with Recruiting Realities and College Athletics Education?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss bringing Coach Matt to speak:  Schedule FREE Speaker Discovery Call

📚 Do you want to handle your college recruiting on your own but would like a plan to follow?  Click HERE to get your copy of the Significant Recruiting Playbook and your Sport Specific Recruit's Journal for baseball, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball.

📺 Do you wish their was an inexpensive, simple step-by-step recruiting class series you could follow?  Click HERE to get full access to the Significant Recruiting Launchpad.

🎙 Why Small-Town Kids Are Built Different | Erik Kudronowicz Interview 

In Part II of this conversation, Matt Rogers sits down with Erik Kudronowicz, Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Scales Mound High School in Illinois, to discuss recruiting, multi-sport athletes, work ethic, and why small-town kids are often overlooked in today’s recruiting landscape.

Coach Kudronowicz shares outstanding perspective for:
 🏀 Student-athletes
 🏀 Parents
 🏀 High school coaches
 🏀 College recruiters

Topics include:
 ✔️ The recruiting process
 ✔️ Helping athletes find the right fit
 ✔️ Why multi-sport athletes still matter
 ✔️ The value of small-town toughness and adaptability
 ✔️ Supporting athletes through pressure and adversity
 ✔️ How coaches can better mentor young people

If you believe sports can still change lives, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen/watch more episodes:
 coachmattrogers.com/podcast

➡️ Subscribe for weekly coaching & recruiting insights:
 coachmattrogers.com

📺 YouTube:
 youtube.com/@CoachMattRogers

Send us Fan Mail

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes

Don't rely on mere chance.  Be significant with your future.

The easy 12-step book to owning your college recruitment.

Get your copy here at Amazon.com

Support the show

📰 Join my Recruiting and Coaching Community and get my FREE Weekly Newsletter at coachmattrogers.com

📆 Need help with your children's college recruiting needs?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss working together:  Schedule FREE Recruiting Session

🎤 Does your school or organization need help with Recruiting Realities and College Athletics Education?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss bringing Coach Matt to speak:  Schedule FREE Speaker Discovery Call

📚 Do you want to handle your college recruiting on your own but would like a plan to follow?  Click HERE to get your copy of the Significant Recruiting Playbook and your Sport Specific Recruit's Journal for baseball, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball.

📺 Do you wish their was an inexpensive, simple step-by-step recruiting class series you could follow?  Click HERE to get full access to the Significant Recruiting Launchpad.

🏀 David vs. Goliath: How a Tiny Illinois School Built a Basketball Powerhouse 

What does it take to build a winning basketball program at one of the smallest schools in America?

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Erik Kudronowicz, Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Scales Mound High School in Illinois — a town of roughly 400 people with a school enrollment of around 75 students.

Over the last seven years, Scales Mound has gone 167-57 with a State Runner-Up finish and a State 3rd Place finish.

If you loved the movie Hoosiers, this conversation will resonate with you.

Coach Kudronowicz shares insight on:
 🏀 Building culture in a small-town program
 🏀 Developing multi-sport athletes
 🏀 Accountability and leadership
 🏀 Creating consistency over time
 🏀 Coaching beyond the scoreboard

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations with coaches, athletic directors, and leaders from across the country.

➡️ Listen/watch more episodes: coachmattrogers.com/podcast
➡️ Subscribe for weekly coaching & recruiting insights: coachmattrogers.com
➡️ YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@CoachMattRogers

Send us Fan Mail

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes

Don't rely on mere chance.  Be significant with your future.

The easy 12-step book to owning your college recruitment.

Get your copy here at Amazon.com

Support the show

📰 Join my Recruiting and Coaching Community and get my FREE Weekly Newsletter at coachmattrogers.com

📆 Need help with your children's college recruiting needs?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss working together:  Schedule FREE Recruiting Session

🎤 Does your school or organization need help with Recruiting Realities and College Athletics Education?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss bringing Coach Matt to speak:  Schedule FREE Speaker Discovery Call

📚 Do you want to handle your college recruiting on your own but would like a plan to follow?  Click HERE to get your copy of the Significant Recruiting Playbook and your Sport Specific Recruit's Journal for baseball, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball.

📺 Do you wish their was an inexpensive, simple step-by-step recruiting class series you could follow?  Click HERE to get full access to the Significant Recruiting Launchpad.

🏀 Ep. 173: Recruiting for Grinnell’s System Basketball | David Arseneault Jr. 

David Arseneault Jr., Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Grinnell College, returns for Part II of this conversation on the Significant Recruiting Podcast.

In this episode, we focus on recruiting for speed in Grinnell’s System basketball—what it takes to play in a program built on pace, constant movement, and decision-making under pressure.

David breaks down the type of player who thrives, how roles and minutes are defined, and why fit matters more than talent alone. We also discuss communication with coaches, academic expectations, and how recruits and families should think about choosing a program that operates very differently from traditional college basketball.

If you’re a recruit, parent, or coach trying to understand what it really means to play fast—and whether you’re built for it—this conversation will help you think about the process in a more intentional way.

🎧 Listen: coachmattrogers.com/podcast
 📺 Watch: youtube.com/@CoachMattRogers

Send us Fan Mail

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes

Don't rely on mere chance.  Be significant with your future.

The easy 12-step book to owning your college recruitment.

Get your copy here at Amazon.com

Also, check out the companion workbooks The Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Softball and Volleyball Recruit's Journals at coachmattrogers.com or amazon.com.

Support the show

📰 Join my Recruiting and Coaching Community and get my FREE Weekly Newsletter at coachmattrogers.com

📆 Need help with your children's college recruiting needs?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss working together:  Schedule FREE Recruiting Session

🎤 Does your school or organization need help with Recruiting Realities and College Athletics Education?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss bringing Coach Matt to speak:  Schedule FREE Speaker Discovery Call

📚 Do you want to handle your college recruiting on your own but would like a plan to follow?  Click HERE to get your copy of the Significant Recruiting Playbook and your Sport Specific Recruit's Journal for baseball, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball.

📺 Do you wish their was an inexpensive, simple step-by-step recruiting class series you could follow?  Click HERE to get full access to the Significant Recruiting Launchpad.

🏀 David Arseneault Jr. — The Art, Discipline, & Evolution of System Basketball 

David Arseneault Jr., Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Grinnell College, joins Episode 172 of the Significant Coaching Podcast for a deep dive into one of the most unique systems in the game.

In Part 1, we go beyond the surface of “organized chaos” and get into the reality of coaching System basketball—how it’s taught, how it evolves, and why it’s far more intentional than most people realize. David breaks down the defensive philosophy behind the system, how they develop rim protection and positional awareness, and what it takes for players to adjust to the pace both physically and mentally.

We also get into rotations, player buy-in, staff collaboration, and the balance between structure and freedom that allows his teams to play fast without losing discipline. This is a conversation about trust, identity, and coaching with conviction—while still evolving with the game.

If you’ve ever wondered what really goes into coaching at that pace, this episode delivers.

🎧 Listen: coachmattrogers.com/podcast
 📺 Watch: youtube.com/@CoachMattRogers

Send us Fan Mail

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes

Don't rely on mere chance.  Be significant with your future.

The easy 12-step book to owning your college recruitment.

Get your copy here at Amazon.com

Also, check out the companion workbooks The Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Softball and Volleyball Recruit's Journals at coachmattrogers.com or amazon.com.

Support the show

📰 Join my Recruiting and Coaching Community and get my FREE Weekly Newsletter at coachmattrogers.com

📆 Need help with your children's college recruiting needs?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss working together:  Schedule FREE Recruiting Session

🎤 Does your school or organization need help with Recruiting Realities and College Athletics Education?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss bringing Coach Matt to speak:  Schedule FREE Speaker Discovery Call

📚 Do you want to handle your college recruiting on your own but would like a plan to follow?  Click HERE to get your copy of the Significant Recruiting Playbook and your Sport Specific Recruit's Journal for baseball, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball.

📺 Do you wish their was an inexpensive, simple step-by-step recruiting class series you could follow?  Click HERE to get full access to the Significant Recruiting Launchpad.

🎙 Division II Recruiting: The “Sweet Spot” | Dr. Michael McFarland

In Episode #171 of the Significant Recruiting Podcast, Matt Rogers continues the conversation with Dr. Michael McFarland, Athletic Director at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg, to break down what today’s recruiting landscape really looks like for student-athletes and families.

Dr. McFarland shares why NCAA Division II is the “sweet spot”—offering the right balance between academics, athletics, and overall student experience—and what recruits must understand to navigate the process the right way.

This episode is packed with practical advice on communication, follow-up, and making informed decisions in a rapidly changing environment shaped by the transfer portal, roster limits, and increased competition.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

•  Why Division II offers a powerful balance for student-athletes 
•  How the transfer portal is impacting recruiting decisions 
•  Why recruiting is now a 4-year relationship, not a one-time decision 
•  The importance of communication, follow-up, and “call to action” 
•  What recruits, parents, and coaches often misunderstand about the process 
•  How to evaluate “fit” beyond just level, money, or prestige

Learn more about Dr. McFarland:  Click Here 

Send us Fan Mail

Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes

Don't rely on mere chance.  Be significant with your future.

The easy 12-step book to owning your college recruitment.

Get your copy here at Amazon.com

Support the show

📰 Join my Recruiting and Coaching Community and get my FREE Weekly Newsletter at coachmattrogers.com

📆 Need help with your children's college recruiting needs?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss working together:  Schedule FREE Recruiting Session

🎤 Does your school or organization need help with Recruiting Realities and College Athletics Education?  Schedule your FREE Discovery Call to discuss bringing Coach Matt to speak:  Schedule FREE Speaker Discovery Call

📚 Do you want to handle your college recruiting on your own but would like a plan to follow?  Click HERE to get your copy of the Significant Recruiting Playbook and your Sport Specific Recruit's Journal for baseball, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball.

📺 Do you wish their was an inexpensive, simple step-by-step recruiting class series you could follow?  Click HERE to get full access to the Significant Recruiting Launchpad.