🎙️ Built for the Modern Game: Will Chavis on NIL, the Portal, and the Future of Recruiting 🏀

In this episode of The Significant Recruiting Podcast, host Matt Rogers sits down with Will Chavis, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Drexel University, for a powerful and practical look at today’s ever-changing recruiting world.

From being Bobby Knight’s first recruit at Texas Tech to playing professionally across Europe and now mentoring Division I athletes, Coach Chavis has lived every corner of the basketball journey. What makes his story remarkable is not just his experience — it’s his perspective.

In this conversation, Will breaks down the realities of NIL and the transfer portal in a way few coaches can. He explains how both can serve athletes when handled with purpose and honesty — and why the best programs are the ones willing to adapt with integrity.

Whether you’re a recruit, a parent, or a coach, this episode is a must-listen for anyone trying to understand what it really takes to thrive in the modern era of college athletics.

🔗 Learn more about Coach Will Chavis: drexeldragons.com/staff-directory/will-chavis/553

💡 Explore recruiting tools, books, and resources for families and coaches: CoachMattRogers.com

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🎙️ From Bobby Knight to Drexel: The Humble Leadership of Will Chavis 🏀

In this episode of The Significant Coaching Podcast, host Matt Rogers sits down with Will Chavis, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Drexel University — and one of the most grounded, inspiring voices in college basketball today.

From being Bobby Knight’s first recruit at Texas Tech to a decade-long professional career in Europe, to developing NBA players and leading young men at every level — Coach Chavis’s journey is a masterclass in humility, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership.

He opens up about what he learned from playing for legends, how his international experience shaped his coaching style, and why he believes the chaos of modern college athletics (NIL, transfer portal, player movement) is actually an opportunity to lead differently — with empathy, honesty, and hope.

If you love real conversations about coaching, culture, and character, this episode will hit home.

🔗 Learn more about Coach Will Chavis: drexeldragons.com/staff-directory/will-chavis/553

💡 Explore tools and resources for coaches, athletes, and parents at CoachMattRogers.com

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Support the show

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

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Did you like what you heard and want more?
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In Part 2, Coach Vinny Barber—Head Men’s Wrestling Coach at the University of Lynchburg—gets practical about recruiting for high school athletes, parents, and coaches. Drawing from concrete examples in the conversation, Vinny shows what actually earns attention, builds trust, and moves you up a coach’s list—without the fluff.

You’ll hear:

• Communication that counts — how to reach out with purpose, follow up, and keep it concise
• Film that helps — what to include, what to skip, and the right length
• Social media that builds trust — what coaches notice (and what raises red flags)
• Academics as a separator — transcripts, test plans, and reliability over talk
• Reading “fit” — culture cues on visits, body language in the room, honest self-assessment
• Timelines & first-roster realities — how Lynchburg is building toward ODAC 2026–27 and what that means for recruits and families

Learn more about Coach Barber: https://lynchburgsports.com/staff-directory/vinny-barber/363

Connect with all things Significant Coaching & Recruiting—podcasts, weekly blogs, Significant Recruiting books, Launchpad classes, and speaking: coachmattrogers.com

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

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Did you like what you heard and want more?
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What does it take to build a college program from zero—culture first, wins second, significance always? In this episode, Coach Vinny Barber returns (last seen in Episode 15) as the newly named Head Men’s Wrestling Coach at the University of Lynchburg to unpack the real work of starting something enduring. We talk through the vision for a state-of-the-art wrestling facility, the standards that shape day-one culture, and how to lead athletes through uncertainty with clarity, humility, and edge.

Vinny reflects on lessons from the University of the Ozarks—including NWCA Academic All-Americans, NCAA DIII qualifiers, conference champions, and a 2024 team title—and how those experiences inform everything from staff hiring to practice design to athlete development. We also explore his time with River Valley Wrestling Club and FloWrestling, and why storytelling and systems both matter when you’re building a program meant to last.

🎯 If you’re a coach, AD, or parent who cares about process over hype and character over shortcuts, this one’s for you.
👀 And don’t miss Part 2, where we go deep on recruiting: communication, evaluation, and building Lynchburg’s first roster.

Learn more about Coach Barber: lynchburgsports.com/staff-directory/vinny-barber/363

Explore podcasts, weekly blogs, Significant Recruiting books, Launchpad classes, and speaking: coachmattrogers.com

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

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🎯 Luke Falk: Recruiting Lessons, Resilience, and the Power of Mind Strength 🏈

From overlooked recruit to Washington State record-breaker to NFL quarterback—Luke Falk’s journey is packed with lessons every athlete and parent can learn from. In this episode of the Significant Recruiting Podcast, Luke opens up about his unique recruiting path, the setbacks and breakthroughs that shaped him, and how “mind strength” is the real difference-maker in both sports and life.

We also dive into the heart behind his brand-new book, The Mind Strength Playbook 📘—a guide for athletes, parents, and coaches to master the mental side of performance. Luke’s story is raw, honest, and full of insights that go far beyond the stat sheet.

👉 Learn more and pre-order Luke’s book at CoachLukeFalk.com
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👉 For recruiting resources, weekly blogs, podcast episodes, and details on how to schedule me to speak at your school or organization, visit CoachMattRogers.com
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Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

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Did you like what you heard and want more?
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🎙 Luke Falk: Mind Strength, Mental Health, and the Quarterback’s Journey 🏈

From walk-on to record-breaking quarterback at Washington State, to playing in the NFL, and now author of The Mind Strength Playbook—Luke Falk’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and purpose. In this powerful episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Luke joins Matt Rogers to discuss the mental side of performance, the lessons he’s carried from his time with Coach Mike Leach, and how his own battles have shaped the way he now coaches and leads.

Luke also opens up about the tragic loss of his teammate and friend Tyler Hilinski, and how it forever changed the way he views mental health and wellness. He shares why returning to Washington State this October to honor Tyler’s life is such a meaningful step in raising awareness for athletes everywhere.

Finally, we dive into Luke’s new book, The Mind Strength Playbook—a guide for athletes, parents, and leaders to master the mindset that drives performance in sports, business, and life.

To connect with Luke Falk, learn more about his coaching, or pre-order The Mind Strength Playbook, head to CoachLukeFalk.com

For more resources on recruiting, leadership, and building significance in your journey, visit CoachMattRogers.com

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

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🎙️ Beyond the Offer: Ruth N. Nelson on Finding the Right Fit 🏐✨

Ruth N. Nelson has lived every side of the recruiting process—Division I head coach at Houston, LSU, and Iowa, U.S. National Team coach, mentor to legends like Flo Hyman and Rita Crockett, and now the founder of BYOP® (Bring Your Own Parent) and GoKids.

In this episode, Ruth shares powerful lessons every athlete and parent needs to hear about the realities of recruiting, how to prepare for opportunities, and what truly matters when choosing the right college fit.

Her decades of experience prove that recruiting isn’t about chasing offers—it’s about finding the right environment where athletes can thrive in school, in sport, and in life.

👉 Learn more about Ruth’s work at Ruthipedia.com, and find more recruiting tools and resources at CoachMattRogers.com.

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🎙️ Ruth N. Nelson – Pioneer, Innovator, Trailblazer in Women’s Sports 🚀🏐

When you talk about pioneers in women’s athletics, Ruth N. Nelson is on the shortlist. With 557 career wins as a Division I head coach at Houston, LSU, and Iowa—and as a U.S. National coach—Ruth helped shape the aftermath of Title IX and build opportunities for generations of athletes.

In this episode, Ruth shares stories from coaching legends like Flo Hyman, Rita Crockett, and Rose Magers, to creating innovative programs like BYOP® (Bring Your Own Parent) and the GoKids Youth Sports Certification. She’s an innovator who continues to shape the game at every level, proving that the story of women’s sports is still being written.

Don’t miss this conversation with one of the most passionate, energetic, and visionary leaders in volleyball and beyond.

👉 Learn more about Ruth’s work at Ruthipedia.com, and find more recruiting tools and resources at CoachMattRogers.com.

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

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New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.