The Commissioner's Take on Recruiting: Fit, Expectations, and the Division II Reality | Bob Dranoff (Part 2)

In Part 2 of this conversation on the Significant Recruiting Podcast, Matt Rogers is joined by Dr. Bob Dranoff—long-time athletic director at Molloy University, former administrator at St. John’s University, and recently retired commissioner of the NCAA Division II East Coast Conference—for a realistic look at college recruiting.

This episode focuses on what coaches, families, and recruits often misunderstand about opportunity, scholarships, and fit—particularly at the Division II level. Drawing on decades of experience, Dranoff explains how recruiting decisions are shaped by enrollment needs, institutional priorities, finances, and leadership philosophy, and why assumptions don’t always align with how rosters are actually built.

They also discuss changing family expectations, the pressures facing coaches, and why transparency and honest conversations matter more than ever in today’s recruiting environment. While Division II may not be the right athletic fit for every student, it can be an excellent academic fit for many—and understanding that distinction is critical.

This episode is especially valuable for:

• Student-athletes navigating recruiting decisions
• Parents trying to understand the process realistically
• Coaches building rosters and managing expectations

🎧 Audio: https://coachmattrogers.com/podcast/

📺 Video: https://youtube.com/@CoachMattRogers

For more recruiting resources:

📘 Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
https://amzn.to/3LMRRjk

📓 The Recruit’s Journal (sport-specific editions)
https://coachmattrogers.com/journals

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://coachmattrogers.com/

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show!

🎙️ From the Commissioner’s Chair: What NCAA Division II Leadership Really Looks Like | Bob Dranoff

What does it actually mean to lead an NCAA conference?

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with Bob Dranoff, former Commissioner of the East Coast Conference, for a rare, behind-the-scenes look at leadership from the highest level of Division II athletics.

Bob shares what most coaches and athletic directors never get to see—the reality of conference leadership. From balancing presidents, athletic directors, coaches, and student-athletes, to running championships, managing membership, and navigating limited resources, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the complexity of the commissioner’s role.

They dive deep into what makes Division II special, why empathy matters more than ever in leadership, how athletic directors can better support coaches, and the growing challenges facing college athletics—from professionalization to burnout to changing family expectations.

This episode is packed with perspective for:

• College coaches
• Athletic directors
• Administrators and aspiring leaders
• Anyone seeking a clearer, more grounded view of leadership in college athletics

📘 Resources Mentioned & Recommended:

• Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes
  👉 https://amzn.to/3LMRRjk
  
  
• The Recruit’s Journal (sport-specific editions)
  👉 https://coachmattrogers.com/journals

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://coachmattrogers.com/

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show!

🎙️ 3-Peat Perspective: How Candace Moats Recruits for Championships That Last

How do you win a three-peat—and keep doing it without burning out your culture, your players, or yourself?

On Part 2 of this two-part series on the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers continues the conversation with Candace Moats, Head Volleyball Coach at Indiana Wesleyan University, AVCA Coach of the Year, and leader of a program that has captured three consecutive NAIA National Championships.

This episode zeroes in on recruiting—and why sustained excellence starts long before a recruit ever steps on campus.

Coach Moats breaks down how her recruiting philosophy has evolved from chasing talent to prioritizing fit, joy, work ethic, and alignment. She shares why she refuses to manipulate recruits into saying yes, how she talks honestly about faith-based schools, what she listens for in conversations, and why the best recruiting decisions are the ones athletes make for themselves.

This is a must-listen for recruits, parents, and coaches who want clarity, honesty, and a recruiting process built on trust—not pressure.

🔗 Candace Moats Bio: https://iwuwildcats.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/coaches/candace-moats/777

🎧 Listen: CoachMattRogers.com
📺 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@CoachMattRogers

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://coachmattrogers.com/

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a comment or recommend your favorite athlete, coach or leader to be on the show!