If you’ve ever felt like the recruiting process suddenly speeds up and everything happens at once, this episode will help you understand why.

In Part 1 of this conversation, Susan sits down with Keegan Cook, head coach at the University of Minnesota, to talk through how the current recruiting timeline actually works and what’s changed over the years. They break down the June 15th rule, why communication is so limited before that date, and why everything can feel so overwhelming once it opens up.

Keegan shares what recruiting looked like before these rule changes, how the process has evolved, and what college coaches are navigating behind the scenes. You’ll also learn why camps have become such a big part of recruiting and how families can better understand what’s happening during this phase.

If you’re trying to make sense of June 15th and the overall recruiting timeline, this episode will give you important context and clarity.

Guest: Keegan Cook

Keegan Cook is the head coach of the University of Minnesota volleyball program and one of the most respected voices in the college game when it comes to recruiting and player development. Since taking over in 2022, he’s led the Gophers to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run, while earning AVCA Region Coach of the Year honors.

Prior to Minnesota, Cook built a powerhouse at the University of Washington with multiple Pac-12 titles, a Final Four appearance, and consistent national success. With experience across club, mid-major, and Power 5 levels, as well as involvement with USA Volleyball, he brings a well-rounded perspective on how the recruiting process works and how it’s evolving for today’s athletes and families.

Chapters

00:00 – Intro and why recruiting feels overwhelming right now

01:30 – Meet Keegan Cook and his perspective on recruiting

04:00 – The biggest issue: limited communication before June 15th

08:30 – How recruiting used to work vs. now

12:30 – Why June 15th changed everything

16:00 – The “floodgates” effect and rising pressure on athletes

19:00 – Why camps have become such a big part of recruiting

22:00 – The gap between June 15th and official visits

24:00 – How families are trying to read interest without communication

26:00 – Why recruiting feels rushed and exhausting

Connect with Keegan:

Instagram: @gophervb

Join Susan for a monthly recruiting lesson January-June inside the Volleyball Recruiting School! Become a subscriber here. Or register for January's class all about highlight film here!

Click here for a discount on our go-to, and the hands-down best and most affordable Recruiting Tool + Software we recommend every baller has to increase her efficiency in all that she does 👉🏼 PRODUCTIVE RECRUIT

Want to support your baller in getting her process started and have an experienced volleyball recruiting advisor walk her through it? Enroll in RECRUIT READY: LAUNCH 🚀

Need help getting unstuck in the recruiting process? Apply for a RECRUITING INTENSIVE.

Connect with Susan:
Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com
Follow on Instagram: @hey.susank

P.S. If you’re an athlete with big goals, a parent who wants to support the journey, or a coach who cares deeply about your players, this podcast was made for you. Hit subscribe and come grow with us.

What does it actually mean when you see an “evaluation” on your University Athlete profile?

In Part 2 of Susan’s conversation with Corie Murphy from University Athlete, they break down one of the most misunderstood parts of the platform: coach evaluations. Athletes often assume an evaluation means strong recruiting interest, but the reality is more nuanced. Corie explains how college coaches use tags, ratings, notes, and internal evaluations to organize their recruiting process.

Susan and Corie also discuss what athletes should actually pay attention to on their profile, how coaches track prospects over time, and why consistent engagement matters more than a single data point. If you’ve ever wondered what those numbers and notifications really mean, this episode will give you a clearer picture of how coaches use University Athlete in recruiting.

Guest: Corie Murphy

Corie Murphy is the Director of Operations at University Athlete (UA), a platform used by college coaches across the country to organize and evaluate athletes in the recruiting process. A former collegiate volleyball player at Eastern Washington and assistant coach at the University of Idaho, Corie has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of technology and college athletics. Through her work with University Athlete, she helps develop tools that allow college coaches to track prospects, manage evaluations, and recruit more efficiently throughout the year.

Chapters

00:00 – What a University Athlete “evaluation” actually is

01:00 – The different tools coaches use to evaluate players

02:00 – How recruiting tags work behind the scenes

03:00 – Ratings, notes, and internal evaluations

04:30 – Why athletes see evaluation activity

06:00 – Can coaches see each other’s notes?

07:00 – Why an evaluation doesn’t always mean recruiting interest

08:30 – What patterns athletes should actually look for

10:00 – What makes a helpful athlete profile

11:30 – The importance of accurate contact information

13:00 – New AI matching features coming to UA

15:00 – How clubs may use UA in the future

20:00 – Do Power 4 coaches use UA?

22:00 – What to do if a coach says no

24:30 – The one thing every athlete should do on their UA profile

Connect with Corie:

Website: www.universityathlete.com

Instagram: @universityathle

Join Susan for a monthly recruiting lesson January-June inside the Volleyball Recruiting School! Become a subscriber here. Or register for January's class all about highlight film here!

Click here for a discount on our go-to, and the hands-down best and most affordable Recruiting Tool + Software we recommend every baller has to increase her efficiency in all that she does 👉🏼 PRODUCTIVE RECRUIT

Want to support your baller in getting her process started and have an experienced volleyball recruiting advisor walk her through it? Enroll in RECRUIT READY: LAUNCH 🚀

Need help getting unstuck in the recruiting process? Apply for a RECRUITING INTENSIVE.

Connect with Susan:
Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com
Follow on Instagram: @hey.susank

P.S. If you’re an athlete with big goals, a parent who wants to support the journey, or a coach who cares deeply about your players, this podcast was made for you. Hit subscribe and come grow with us.

If you’ve ever wondered why college coaches spend so much time on their phones at volleyball tournaments, this episode will help you understand what they’re doing. In Part 1, Susan sits down with Corie Murphy from University Athlete (UA) to talk about how the platform works and why it has become an essential tool in college volleyball recruiting.

Corie shares the origin of UA and explains how it evolved from a simple roster tool into the system many coaches rely on year-round. You’ll learn how coaches use it at tournaments, how they build recruiting schedules, and why athletes don’t need to send court times anymore. If you’re trying to make recruiting easier and stand out, understanding platforms like UA can give you a real advantage.

Guest: Corie Murphy

Corie Murphy is the Director of Operations at University Athlete (UA), a platform used by college coaches across the country to organize and evaluate athletes in the recruiting process. A former collegiate volleyball player at Eastern Washington and former assistant coach at the University of Idaho, Corie has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of technology and college athletics. Through her work with University Athlete, she helps develop tools that allow college coaches to track prospects, manage evaluations, and recruit more efficiently throughout the year.

Chapters
01:00 – How UA started and why it was created
03:00 – The technology that changed recruiting at tournaments
05:30 – How college coaches used to recruit before UA
07:00 – What University Athlete actually is
08:30 – How coaches organize recruiting using the platform
10:00 – How tournament packets work
11:30 – Why college coaches are always on their phones at events
12:30 – Why athletes don’t need to email court times
14:00 – How coaches track recruits over time
15:30 – Free athlete profiles and how the database works
18:00 – What athletes should include on their UA profile
21:00 – What the upgraded UA profile shows athletes
23:30 – Messaging tools and college matching features
26:00 – How athletes can use UA strategically in recruiting

Connect with Corie:

Website: www.universityathlete.com

Instagram: @universityathlete

Join Susan for a monthly recruiting lesson January-June inside the Volleyball Recruiting School! Become a subscriber here. Or register for January's class all about highlight film here!

Click here for a discount on our go-to, and the hands-down best and most affordable Recruiting Tool + Software we recommend every baller has to increase her efficiency in all that she does 👉🏼 PRODUCTIVE RECRUIT

Want to support your baller in getting her process started and have an experienced volleyball recruiting advisor walk her through it? Enroll in RECRUIT READY: LAUNCH 🚀

Need help getting unstuck in the recruiting process? Apply for a RECRUITING INTENSIVE.

Connect with Susan:
Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com
Follow on Instagram: @hey.susank

P.S. If you’re an athlete with big goals, a parent who wants to support the journey, or a coach who cares deeply about your players, this podcast was made for you. Hit subscribe and come grow with us.