What College Coaches Look For

Want to wrestle in college? Then read on and learn what it takes to get noticed and succeed at the next level.   

While winning high school state championships and succeeding in national events, such as the 16U (formerly Cadet) and Junior Nationals, Flo Nationals or the NHSCA High School Nationals will help young athletes get noticed, there are certain intangibles, qualities, and traits each coach looks for when recruiting any wrestler that go far beyond winning age-group, high school, and national championships.

For example, winning a state title is a great accomplishment, says American University head coach Teague Moore, but it’s not always a great (or the only) measuring stick with which a coaches judges a student athlete.

“Sometimes kids develop faster, have an optimum environment, or maybe just had a good weekend and won the title,” Moore says.

For the hundreds of college coaches across the country, it ultimately comes down to finding the type of kid they want to coach and want in their program. They want someone who fits on and off the mat.

Says Moore: “Are they willing to work, learn, challenge themselves? Those traits are going to play out more positively in college than a kid who was groomed by his dad or coach, protected to keep a record intact, or in a program that officials or towns ‘clear the way’ for victory.”

For Randy Rager, head coach of the Rochester Community and Technical College wrestling program, it’s about more than winning because a person who is a winner on the mat might be a bad apple off the mat.

“Guys naturally seem to follow the ‘best’ wrestlers outside of wrestling,” Rager says. “If those guys are poor influences, I would have more problems to deal with on the team. I would rather work with a wrestler who listens and wants to get better and is a good person.”

Moore, Rager, former George Mason University coach Joe Russell (currently the Manager of Freestyle Programs for USA Wrestling), and Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club coach Jeff Buxton (one of the most successful high school coaches ever) break down the traits that are most important to them in recruits.

1. Respectfulness: How do they treat their parents? How do they treat their coach? How do they treat their teammates? How do they treat officials? How do they treat opponents? “I watched interactions to see if their character showed me they respected those around them,” Russell says.

2. Attitude: “I liked to watch how a recruit interacted with their teammates,” Russell says. “Did they cheer for their teammates? Did their teammates cheer for them? Are others drawn to them? How do they handle adversity? How do the handle success? Is this someone my team will want to add to our team? Is this someone who I want to be around, help grow. Will this person add more to the team than they will take?”

3. Effort: How hard do they prepare? How hard do they compete? “If I saw a wrestler who would give great effort in their preparation and great effort when they competed, I believed the athlete could find success in college wrestling,” Russell says.

4. Academics: Does this athlete crave learning? Does this athlete plan on graduating? Does this athlete have the skill set to show up, be on time, be prepared and do what the instructor requires? “I did not care if they were the smartest or best student,” Russell says. “I cared that they gave great effort and had a great attitude about education.”

Rager wants his wrestlers to succeed on and off the mat. He stresses academics and succeeding in life and wanting to be part of the program and culture. “We want guys that look at the big picture of wrestling and academics, who see that Junior College wrestling is a great option for them,” he says.

5. Ability to learn and grow: Will the athlete take instruction? Will the athlete work on skill development? Is the athlete willing to take risks in practice and competition? “An athlete who goes the extra mile to improve and works with a coach to get better is a trait that can lead to success,” Buxton says.

6. Physical skills: Speed, power, flexibility. “I liked to recruit wrestlers who could wrestle left hand and leg dominant,” Russell says. “Wrestlers who could use their legs like arms.”

7. Mental skills: “Confidence in themselves on and off the mat, Russell says. “I looked for guys who showed resilience and the ability to overcome adversity, who were comfortable being uncomfortable. Guys who showed they could find a way to solve problems.”

8. Communication: “Can I sit and have a 10-minute conversation with them about wrestling, classes, or what they like to do in their free time? I’ve found the better athletes can discuss their training routines, what makes them excited to compete, and what they don’t enjoy with those situations,” Moore says. “This usually also directly correlates into their communication when they become a student athlete and need help with academics, personal problems, or advice.”

9. They expect to win: They should have a certain confidence, swagger, and attitude that they expect to win. “They can focus a lot of energy and effort into a specific task,” Moore says. “If asked to accomplish a goal, they can usually eliminate distractions in the midst of chaos and put their mind and action into the steps needed to accomplish a goal.”

And it’s more than a mindset—coaches want competitors on the mat, Moore says. “Usually the better athletes like to compete regardless of what’s at stake,” he says.

10. Mental toughness: “I feel mental toughness is the No. 1 factor in being successful in any sport,” Buxton says. “They need to have the will to win and ability to finish periods as well as matches. They also have to have a high wrestling IQ and know what to do in certain situations, while being able to handle adversity and work through stress.”

11. Strength: “A college athlete has to have the will to work at their craft,” Buxton says. “Strength is something you can develop, but crucial in the long run to achieve success.

12. Responsibility: “They should take on all the responsibilities of being a good student athlete and show compassion to others and work to help them improve,” Buxton says.

13. Those who have fight: “We also look for guys that are fighters,” Rager says. “These are they guys that work their way back through tournaments and disappointments. In college wrestling you need to overcome adversity.”