Significant Coaching with Matt Rogers

🎧 There Is a Place for You | Jordan Willis on Recruiting, Fit & Communication 🏐 Florida Tech Head Volleyball Coach Jordan Willis returns for Part II of his conversation with Matt Rogers, and this time the focus shifts to recruiting. But this isn't a conversation about rankings, stars, or chasing the biggest name on the front of a jersey. Instead, Jordan shares his thoughts on character,...

🏐 Building Winners Without Losing Yourself | Jordan Willis, Florida Tech Volleyball  Jordan Willis, Head Volleyball Coach at NCAA Division II Florida Tech , joins Matt Rogers for one of the most enjoyable and insightful conversations of the year. After leading the Panthers from a 9-win season in 2023 to a 20-win campaign and one of the best conference records in program history in 2024, Willis sh...

🏐🎧 Why Recruits Should Visit Colleges More Than Once | April Elsbernd  How many college visits should a recruit take before making a commitment?  According to Coe College Head Volleyball Coach April Elsbernd , probably more than one.  In Part II of our conversation, Coach Elsbernd shares her recruiting philosophy and explains why finding the right college fit requires more than a quick visit and...

🏐 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 im...

🏀 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 h...

🏀 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...

 “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, par...

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 Divi...

🎙 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 perspect...

🏀 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...

🏀 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-maki...

🏀 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 taug...

🎙 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 “sw...

🎙️ Building a Significant Athletic Department | Dr. Michael McFarland  On this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Dr. Michael McFarland, Athletic Director at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg , for a powerful conversation on leadership, culture, and what it really takes to build a thriving athletic department. Dr. McFarland shares the philosophy that drives Bl...

The Mental Side of Greatness with Val Whiting | Ep. 168  On this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers is joined by Val Whiting, former Stanford All-American, WNBA player, two-time NCAA National Champion , and mental performance coach for female athletes.  Val shares her journey from winning championships at Stanford Cardinal women's basketball and playing professionally in...

 🧠 The Mental Side of Greatness with Val Whiting  | Ep. 168  On this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers is joined by Val Whiting , former Stanford All-American, WNBA player, two-time NCAA National Champion , and mental performance coach for female athletes. Val shares her journey from winning championships at Stanford Cardinal women's basketball and playing professional...

🎙️ The Reality of How Softball Coaches Evaluate | Larry Yoder | Ep. 167 In this episode of the Significant Recruiting Podcast, Matt Rogers continues his conversation with Larry Yoder, Head Softball Coach at Mount Mercy University , to break down what really matters in the recruiting process. This is a real, honest conversation about what coaches are actually looking for, how athletes can separate...

🎙️Building a Program That Lasts | Larry Yoder | Significant Coaching Ep. 166 In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Larry Yoder , Head Softball Coach at Mount Mercy University , to break down what it takes to build—and sustain—a successful college program over time. This is a real, honest conversation about how programs are actually built, what coaches go t...

 🏐 Coleman Lee: What College Coaches Really Want |  Ep. 165  In this episode of the Significant Recruiting Podcast , Matt Rogers sits down with Central Methodist Head Volleyball Coach Coleman Lee to break down what really matters in the recruiting process. From communication and evaluations to visits and long-term fit, Coleman shares what separates recruits who get opportunities from those who ge...

🎙️ Coleman Lee: Doing It Your Way and Building a Winner |  Ep. 164 In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Central Methodist University Head Volleyball Coach Coleman Lee , who has led the Eagles to six straight NAIA National Tournament appearances. Coleman shares how his program is built through high-level training, long-term player development, and a commit...

🏀 Do You Have What It Takes to Play D2? | Paula Krueger  In Part II of this conversation on the Significant Recruiting Podcast , Matt Rogers sits down with Paula Krueger , Head Women’s Basketball Coach at NCAA Division II Northern State University , to break down what college recruiting really looks like from the coach’s perspective. This episode dives into how recruiting lists actually work, the...

 🏀  Can You Love Your Team? Lessons from Paula Krueger at Northern State  What does it really mean to love your team as a coach? In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast , Matt Rogers sits down with Paula Krueger , Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Northern State University , for a real and reflective conversation on coaching, growth, and perspective. A question Paula was once asked in...

⛳ A 39-Year Masterclass in College Fit and Recruiting In Episode #161 of the Significant Recruiting Podcast , Matt Rogers continues his conversation with Scott Fjelstul , Director of Golf at Luther College and a 39-year head coach with a remarkably decorated career. This is a 39-year masterclass in how to think about recruiting the right way. Too many athletes and families make decisions based on...

 ⛳  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 las...

 🏀 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...