Recruiting Realties Program Presents Pathway to Collegiate Athletic Scholarships

“This is a business and you better know the rules,” Recruiting Realities founder Jack Renkens proclaimed in his sonorous, athletic-coach voice to a room of captivated parents and their student athletes at the Red Bank Regional High School (RBR).  Mr. Renkens, a former high school college coach and athletic director, forged a second career in educating hopeful collegiate athletes and their families on successfully navigating the athletic recruitment process. He cited facts and statistics; debunked popular myths and offered sage advice on how students can realize their dream of playing college sports while receiving a quality, subsidized education. 

            Jennifer Kelly of Little Silver, who has both a middle school and high school athlete, commented, “This was a very interesting and different perspective on how to look at colleges for your children.”

            Steve Sarkus of Union Beach, whose daughter hopes to play softball in college, added, “A light bulb went off in my head on the whole process.”

            Mr. Renkens chastened the audience to dispel the notion that “you pick the school,” but rather, to understand that, “The school picks you.”  For that reason, students need to increase their exposure to a greater number and variety of colleges in an expanded geographical location. 

            He cautioned that while students might have their heart set on attending a Division I school, only 1% of all high school athletes ever get that “full-ride.”  The reality is that there are many other scholarship opportunities available at DII schools or through other entities. Additionally, while some might forgo a financial scholarship at a smaller school, they also may never realize their dream to play at that Div I school. Related to which, the speaker warned against counting on the “walk on opportunity” (that is to apply to a school with the hope of trying-out for the sport without recruitment) as it hardly ever happens.

            Renkens repeated several times, “If they don’t pay (for your education) you don’t play.”

Instead he offered the following advice in prioritizing your college search: (1) your paramount concern should be your education, a decision which will impact the rest of your life; (2) go to a place where you can play; (3) make sure you get the funding. Most importantly, you should be able to negotiate for a maximum combination of athletic and merit scholarships for an education which costs up to $60,000 a year in many schools.

            He also advised students how to conduct themselves while in the important process of contacting colleges and interviewing with coaches. One cardinal rule is to clean-up all social media postings, because, he stated, “Once you are in the system, you will be googled.”

             RBR Athletic Director Del DalPra invited Recruiting Realities to RBR so that RBR athletes and their families could benefit from receiving a “how to guide” in seeking funding for education through athletics.

            He adds, “Though it is important for parents and students to jump on this early, it is never too late, as Jack explains, to enter the recruiting process, if they have the resources and the knowledge.”

            Much of the presentation as well as website resources, and national college recruitment specifications per sport are detailed in the publication, Recruiting Realities, available on the website www.recruiting realities.com.