Significant Coaching with Matt Rogers

 ⛳  Scott Fjelstul: Building People, Not Just Golfers 

What does it take to lead a program for nearly four decades—and do it with consistency, humility, and purpose?

On this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Scott Fjelstul, the longtime Head Men’s Golf Coach at Luther College and Director of Golf, to explore what it really means to build a program that lasts.

For 39 years, Coach Fjelstul has developed not just elite golfers, but high-level people—earning 13 Conference Coach of the Year awards, leading his teams to 12 conference championships and 8 NCAA Division III National Tournament appearances, while coaching All-Americans and Academic All-Americans along the way.

But this conversation goes far beyond wins and accolades.

It’s about:

• Understanding what athletes need—and when they need it
• Building trust in an individual sport like golf
• Creating a culture of consistency and accountability
• Leading with humility and longevity in mind
• Why Division III athletics offers a powerful developmental experience

This episode is a masterclass in coaching, leadership, and building teams that stand the test of time.

🔗 Learn more about Coach Fjelstul: https://luthernorse.com/staff-directory/scott-fjelstul/143

🌐 Explore more resources, books, and speaking opportunities: coachmattrogers.com

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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.

 🏀 Competitiveness, Fit, and the Truth About Recruiting | John Baines | Part II

In Part II of Episode 159 of the Significant Recruiting Podcast, Matt Rogers continues his conversation with John Baines, Head Men's Basketball Coach at Elmhurst University, diving deep into the realities of the college basketball recruiting process.

Coach Baines shares what he truly looks for in recruits after decades in the profession — and it’s not just talent. He explains why competitiveness, resilience, communication, and culture fit often matter more than stats or highlight reels.

In this episode, Coach Baines discusses:

• What competitiveness really looks like when watching recruits in the gym
• Why body language and resilience are critical evaluation tools
• How parents and coaches often see recruiting from very different perspectives
• Why recruits must understand their “why” when reaching out to a college program
• The importance of relationships and campus visits in making the right decision
• Why the best recruiting decisions are about fit, not just opportunity

Coach Baines also shares advice for parents navigating the recruiting process and explains how he evaluates whether a player is truly the right fit for the culture he has built at Elmhurst.

If you’re a recruit, parent, or coach trying to understand how college recruiting really works, this episode offers a candid and insightful look from one of Division III basketball’s most respected coaches.

Learn more about John Baines, Head Men's Basketball Coach at Elmhurst University:
https://elmhurstbluejays.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/john-baines/1092

Subscribe to the This Week in Significant Coaching Newsletter at:
https://coachmattrogers.com

Subscribers receive free access to every podcast episode, the weekly recruiting blog, the Recruit, Coach and Parent Tips of the Week, and the Significant Question of the Week.

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.

This week I’m joined by John Baines, head men’s basketball coach at Elmhurst University, one of the premier Division III basketball programs in the country.

During his time leading the Bluejays, Coach Baines has built a nationally respected program in the CCIW, leading Elmhurst to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, conference championships, and a run to the 2022 NCAA Division III National Championship game after a historic Final Four season.

But what stands out most about Coach Baines is not just the winning.

It’s the way he builds people.

In this conversation we discuss:

• Developing toughness and resilience in players
 • Building leadership inside a team
 • Practice design and daily standards
 • Managing emotional momentum during games
 • Teaching accountability and responsibility
 • Why telling players the truth matters

This episode is packed with insight for coaches, athletic directors, and leaders who care about building strong cultures and developing young people through sport.

To learn more about Coach Baines and his career at Elmhurst, visit:
 https://elmhurstbluejays.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/john-baines/1092

For blogs, books, recruiting resources, and speaking opportunities visit:
 coachmattrogers.com

And make sure to come back Monday for Part II of this conversation, where Coach Baines and I tackle the world of college basketball recruiting.

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.

In Part II of my conversation with Traci Murphy, Vice President for Athletics at NCAA Division II Daemen University, we dive deep into the college recruiting process and how athletic departments evaluate prospective student-athletes.

Understanding the college recruiting process can be difficult for families navigating it for the first time. Parents and athletes often focus on scholarships, playing time, and offers, but the recruiting process is much more complex than that. Athletic directors and coaches are evaluating character, academic preparation, leadership ability, and how a recruit fits within the culture of a program.

Traci Murphy brings a unique perspective to this discussion because she has worked in nearly every corner of college athletics. Her career includes experience in athletic training, compliance, student-athlete support services, and athletics administration, and she now serves as the President of the Division II Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) within NACDA.

Because of that experience, Traci understands the college recruiting process from the perspective of both coaches and administrators. In this conversation we discuss how athletic departments define championship culture, how coaches identify the right recruits for their programs, and what families should be observing during campus visits.

We also discuss several questions parents and student-athletes should ask during the recruiting process, including how to evaluate team culture, academic support systems, and the overall student-athlete experience.

If you are a high school athlete, parent, coach, or athletic administrator, this conversation will give you a clearer understanding of how the college recruiting process actually works inside an athletic department.

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

📚 Explore recruiting resources, books, and journals
 https://coachmattrogers.com

🎤 Schools and organizations can schedule Matt Rogers to speak about navigating the college recruiting process
 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

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.

🎙  Learning Leadership the Right Way with Traci Murphy 

What does it take to lead a thriving college athletics department?

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Traci Murphy, Vice President for Athletics at NCAA Division II Daemen University and the current President of the Division II Athletic Directors Association within NACDA.

With more than three decades of experience in intercollegiate athletics, Murphy has built a career rooted in service, mentorship, and developing environments where student-athletes, coaches, and administrators can thrive.

Matt and Traci discuss the many paths to leadership in college athletics, the value of learning from seasoned mentors, and the lessons that come from building a career step by step. Murphy also shares insights on leading a rising Division II athletics program, building culture across an entire department, and preparing the next generation of leaders in college sports.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that great leadership isn’t built overnight—it’s developed through experience, humility, and a lifelong commitment to learning.

You can listen to more episodes, read the Blog of Significance, explore recruiting resources, and learn how to schedule Matt Rogers to speak at your school, conference, or organization at CoachMattRogers.com.

Learn more about Traci Murphy at Daemen University AD Traci Murphy

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 Reality | Katelyn Smith | Part II

In Part 2 of this Significant Recruiting conversation, Adams State University Athletic Director Katelyn Smith breaks down the realities of recruiting at the NCAA Division II level.

This episode covers:

• How the transfer portal is changing roster opportunities
• Why high school athletes are now competing with college transfers
• What NIL actually looks like at the Division II level
• How partial scholarships and financial planning work
• What Division II coaches are truly looking for in recruits
• Why fit, development, and retention matter more than chasing a level

If you’re a student-athlete, parent, or coach trying to understand where the real opportunities exist in today’s recruiting environment, this episode provides honest insight from the athletic director’s perspective.

For more about Katelyn Smith:  Adams State University AD | Katelyn Smith Bio

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.

🎙 Katelyn Smith on Leadership, Culture, and Why Division II Works (Part 1) 

What does real leadership look like at the NCAA Division II level?

In Part 1 of this Significant Coaching conversation, Adams State University Athletic Director Katelyn Smith shares her journey from assistant coach to AD—and the mindset that has helped her build a culture where more than 500 student-athletes and their coaches can thrive.

Katelyn brings a refreshing honesty and energy to her role. She talks about what it really takes to lead a small-college athletic department, why hiring for fit matters more than a résumé, and how Adams State has created sustained success by focusing on hard work, relationships, and doing more with what you have.

You’ll also hear why she believes small campuses and rural communities create powerful opportunities for growth, accountability, and connection—and why Division II may be the best-kept secret in college athletics.

In this episode:

• Leadership lessons from the AD chair
• Building culture that supports coaches and student-athletes
• Hiring strategies and what ADs really look for
• The reality of small-school athletics
• Why Division II offers a unique and meaningful experience

Part 2 will dive into Division II recruiting, the transfer portal, and NIL.

Learn more about Katelyn Smith at https://asugrizzlies.com/staff-directory/katelyn-smith/1231

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.

🎙️  The JUCO Reset: How Junior College Helps You Rebuild and Move Forward 

Sometimes the recruiting journey doesn’t go the way you planned.

The good news? Junior college can be the reset that changes everything.

In Part 2 of my conversation with Dawson Dickson, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Great Bay Community College (NH), we talk about how the JUCO pathway gives student-athletes the opportunity to grow, develop, and reposition themselves for the right four-year opportunity.

In this episode, we discuss:
 🎯 Who the junior college path is right for
 📹 What coaches look for when evaluating JUCO recruits
 📈 How athletes can improve their value at the next level
 🚀 Why JUCO is a chance to rebuild confidence, maturity, and momentum

For many athletes, junior college isn’t a backup plan—it’s a reset and a second opportunity to move their career forward.

If you’re a recruit, parent, or coach trying to find the best path after setbacks, missed opportunities, or a late start, this conversation will give you a new perspective.

🎧 Listen now: CoachMattRogers.com/podcast
▶️ Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CoachMattRogers

Subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and share this episode with a family navigating the recruiting journey.

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.

🎙️ Building Culture Fast: Why Dawson Dickson Is a Rising Star in College Basketball Coaching 

What does it take to build a winning culture when your roster changes every year?

This week, I sit down with Dawson Dickson, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Great Bay Community College (NH), to talk about leadership at the junior college level and why he’s quickly becoming one of the rising young coaches to watch.

In this conversation, Dawson shares:
 🏀 How to build culture and accountability quickly
 📈 Why progress matters more than the scoreboard
 💬 How high expectations and daily energy drive player growth
 👥 What it really means to mentor and motivate today’s student-athletes

If you’re a coach, athletic director, or leader who wants to build a program that develops people—not just players—this episode is for you.

And be sure to come back Monday for Part 2, where we shift the conversation to the junior college recruiting pathway and how athletes can use JUCO to advance to the four-year level.

🎧 Listen here: CoachMattRogers.com/podcast
▶️ Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CoachMattRogers

#SignificantCoaching #CoachLeadership #NJCAA #JuniorCollegeAthletics #CoachDevelopment #BuildTheCulture #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.

 The Truth About Division II Recruiting: Fit, Growth, and Learning Through Failure 🏀🎯 

In Part 2 of this conversation, Matt Rogers sits down with Bill Cleary, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at NCAA Division II St. Thomas Aquinas College, to talk about the reality of college recruiting and athlete development.

This episode focuses on two critical truths families need to understand:

🏀 NCAA Division II is not a step down from Division I — it’s about opportunity, development, and the right fit.
 📈 Too many athletes arrive at college without ever being pushed, challenged, or allowed to fail — and growth requires all three.

Matt and Bill discuss why honest feedback, higher standards, and strong support systems from coaches, parents, and mentors are essential for long-term success.

If you’re a recruit, parent, or coach navigating the college journey, this conversation will help you shift your focus from chasing level to building real readiness.

Find recruiting resources, including Significant Recruiting and the Basketball Recruit’s Journal, at CoachMattRogers.com

Learn more about Coach Bill Cleary at St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Basketball

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.