How to write recruiting emails college coaches can’t ignore

Stop mass emailing college coaches.

You’re wasting your time and theirs.

Plus, I’m 98.7% sure the coach you just emailed won’t read your email.

Why?

Well, my friend and 3x national coach of the year, TJ Rosene, told me, he got 1200 emails from players wanting to play for him in one week!

1200!!!!!!!!!

Are you freaking kidding me? That’s insane. He said on average, he gets about 700 – 800 a week.

How big is his staff?

3 people.

Even if TJ and his staff did NOTHING else each day besides answer players’ emails, they STILL wouldn’t get to them all.

So, I talked with TJ so you can better understand how to write recruiting emails college coaches can’t ignore.

That way you quit wasting time and actually get the results you want.

Let’s go!

And one disclaimer, if you’re not good enough to play at the school you’re emailing, even the best email ever written won’t get you recruited. So, as we say at PGC Basketball, keep working on your skills and get good first.

Now, here’s the breakdown of how to write a great email in four parts.

1. How to write a subject line
2. Why you must keep the email short
3. What to actually write in the email (template included)
4. How to spark curiosity so they click your highlight tape link
5. One bonus tip

 

1. How to write a subject line

THE determining factor if a coach clicks and opens an email is the subject line. Think of it like Instagram or TikTok. If you don’t like what you see in the first 3 seconds, you scroll down and watch the next video.

Same thing here.

You MUST capture the coach’s attention with a subject line that stands out and is clear.

Here’s what not to say:
• Looking to give away a scholarship? I’m your guy!
• I want a scholarship.
• Scholarship Opportunity.
• I’m interested in your program

Here’s what you might say: (and feel free to use these)
• Need a knockdown shooter who defends daily, read this.
• Don’t read this if you have too many great shooters | Possible Recruit
• Your team flat out competes. That’s why I’d love to be a part of your program.
• I’m 6’ 4” and play hard. Do I have what it takes to play for your team?
• Gritty, hard-nosed defender who can shoot it. (Video inside)
• Need a 6’5 wing? | Video inside (if you’re tall, put height in subject line)
• 3 reasons you shouldn’t recruit me
• Warning: A great teammate who plays hard and defends (video inside)

 

2. Why you must keep the email short

So now a coach has interest and has opened your email. The next question is what do they see?

Well, if you’ve written a 5 paragraph essay like most of us learned in grade school, there’s about a zero percent chance a coach will read it.

Most coaches have a lot going on and are looking for a reason to delete your email. So, don’t give them one.

Keep it short and make your case.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

 

3. What to actually write in the email

They saw the subject line, clicked into the email. And see a scannable email.

So they take a closer look.

Here’s an example of an email I helped a player create a while ago when he was emailing a few college coaches.

Feel free to use this and make it your own! You’ll notice I add some notes in gray to share with you why we wrote this the way we did.

____________________________

Hi Coach ______,

Congrats on beating ______ by 5 points last night. That was an exciting game. The Coach sees this isn’t a mass email by putting in a personalized sentence. Adapt to how you see fit. Maybe it’s something you noticed on their website or about their last season — depending on when you send this email.

I’m ______, a Junior at (insert school) . I know you’re busy so I’ll get right to it. Tell them who you are immediately and acknowledge that you respect their time. It shows you’re aware and you care.

Here’s the bottom line: I want to play for your program. Here’s some quick info on me: Get to the point, fast. Share your grades up front, then your stats, then your highlights. They’re scanning this email. They just want to know the facts.

GPA – 3.9
Season Stats – (Per Game)
Points – 14.1
Rebounds – 3.8
Steals – 2.0
Assists – 3.3
HFPG (High-Fives per game) – 23.7 (I might add something creative to stand out and show you’re a good teammate (assuming you are)
Highlights – (include links)

I’ve watched highlights of your team on YouTube, and what you’ll see at the 2-minute mark in my tape will fit right in with your style of play.

Say something like the sentence above to show two things: (1) You’ve done your research on their team. (2) Build curiosity on how you might fit in with their team.

The reality is, if you’re looking for a 6’7 freak athlete, that’s not me. But if you’re looking for a scrappy, hard nosed, screen setting, ball diving, defense loving, in your face, can shoot the lights out type a guy, that is me.

And I’d love to talk with you more about being that type of player on your team next season.

If you want to catch a coach’s attention on email you have to stand out. Now is your chance. You want to separate yourself in an email the same way you want to separate yourself on the court. Highlight why this coach doesn’t want to pass up on you.

Thanks for your time & consideration. Be polite and grateful.

What time works for you for me to follow up with a phone call and discuss playing at (insert school)?
You’re wanting to further the discussion and work around their schedule by finding a time that works for them.

Ready to hoop,
FIRST/LAST NAME

____________________________
 

BONUS TIP:
Now, maybe the coach read your subject line, clicked into your email, scanned what you wrote, watched two minutes of your highlight tape, but still hasn’t gotten back to you.

Why?

Well, it could have been one of a hundred reasons a coach got distracted from your email and forgot to reply.

So, you can sit at home and wait for a response, or you can be proactive and make sure they respond.

How?

Well, a good ole fashioned phone call. Yep, I said it.

Go to their team’s website, find their phone number, and make the call.

And yes, this is definitely scary.

I actually did this in high school and was so nervous, at times, I hoped they wouldn’t answer so I could leave a voicemail instead. But when they did answer, here’s what happened.

“Hello.”

“Hey Coach, I’m Kyle Koszuta. I sent you an email three days ago. I’m interested in playing for you. Did you receive that email?”

“I think I saw it come through, let me check right now.”

**coach proceeds to pull up the email.**

“Ahh yeah, I got it right here. I’ll take a look.”

“Fantastic.”

Boom. You just made sure that the coach saw it. The same way you wouldn’t rely on hope in your game, don’t rely on it in your recruitment. If you know what you want, go make it happen.

Here’s the thing you gotta understand. The goal of emailing a coach is to get their attention, spark their interest, and start a conversation.

The truth is, 90% of coaches you email probably won’t answer or want to recruit you. That’s just the way it is.

There are so many players who want what you want. The recruiting landscape is different now with coaches often going to the transfer portal before ever going after high school kids.

But, if you want a chance (to play college basketball), by all means, do what it takes to stand out from the crowd and get what you want.

When you look back in 5 years, you’ll be glad you gave it everything and didn’t leave any stone unturned.

Hope this helps,

Kyle