What college coaches actually look for in recruiting emails from players By Matthew DohertyFebruary 5, 2026 It's important to know the do's and don'ts when sending a recruiting email to a potential coach. For many high school soccer players, sending an email to a college coach represents the first step in their recruiting journey. But drafting that initial email can be daunting. What do you say? What do you not say? How do you stand out? As recruits obsess over each word and phrase, college coaches are seeing their inboxes flooded with emails. Coaches receive anywhere from 50 emails per day to 500 per week, especially during peak recruiting season. Understanding what coaches look for and how they handle incoming emails is crucial for prospective recruits. To help players learn what to do—and what not to do—when reaching out to a coach, we spoke with five New England college coaches about the state of recruiting emails in 2026. The responses range from Division 1 schools such as Fairfield and UNH to Division 3 NESCAC programs such as Tufts and Bates. Regardless of the league or division, all five coaches agreed on what every recruiting email needs and the common mistakes that raise red flags. Here’s everything you need to know about sending an email to a college coach. 1. What coaches actually do when an email hits the inbox College coaches typically receive hundreds of emails per week, especially during the height of recruiting season. But all five coaches said they prioritize opening and reading every email. The most important thing to remember is that your email will be read—and logged. “I will open an email and read it, especially if someone shows sincere interest in our school,” said UNH women’s coach Steve Welham. “It may get a response right away, then be logged in a list of players who have reached out.” From there, the goal for all coaches is to see that prospect play live. Thanks to the email, you are now on their radar.

I’ve teamed up with XG Sports to bring you an exclusive deal for their two premier events in Connecticut this winter. As a member of our community you can use the code SCN50 to get $50 off your registration! Important! If you’re registering for the event, please send me a quick email ([email protected]), and we can work together to invite more coaches from your ‘recruiting list.’ We’ll send coaches alerts that you’re playing and extend an invitation for them to attend. This opportunity is open to all readers of this newsletter—don’t miss out! 📅 Event Details & Registration👉 Register for Both Events Here Boys Event: January 10th 👨‍🎓 Boys Registered Coaches - Boston College - Providence College - Army (West Point) - University of Vermont - UCONN - UMASS Amherst - Quinnipiac University - Sacred Heart University - NJIT - University of New Haven - Mount Saint Vincent - Connecticut College - Central Connecticut State University - Gettysburg College - Emmanuel College - Hartwick College - Hartford - Endicott College - Albertus Magnus College - SUNY Maritime - Nichols College - UMass Dartmouth - Western Connecticut - Wheaton Girls Event: February 7th 👩‍🎓 Girls Registered Coaches - NY/NJ Gotham FC (NWSL) - Providence College - Boston University - UCONN - Fordham - University of Rhode Island - Yale University - Fairfield University - University of New Hampshire - Quinnipiac University - CCSU - Le Moyne College - Southern New Hampshire - Southern Connecticut State University - Wesleyan University - Bay Path University - Smith College - West Conn - Mount Holyoke - Clarkson University - Elms College - Bard - Lesley University - Wellesley College - Dean College - Marywood University - Emmanuel College - Stevens Institute of Technology -

A huge congratulations to @abowles24_ , who committed to D1 Iona yesterday! Addison's story is quite remarkable. She reached out to me on October 1st, 2025, in a bit of a panic as a member of the Class of 2026. Here is the booking confirmation: "Appointment booked: Free Consultation (Addison Bowles) @ Wed Oct 1, 2025 10:40am - 11am (EDT) (Steve Coxon)" Just 30 days later, we found Addison, who is from California, a D1 school here on the East Coast. Now, that isn't typical of our results, but it shows what is possible. In the past two months, we have helped three players secure D1 spots in under two months working with us at CSN! Interested? DM for more information!

Schools with the Largest Junior Classes to Replace in 2027! @Mike Levy @Michael Menadue @Audrey Grandinetti @Jill Ciminero @Mia Butcher @Bradley Rothman @Jerid Grandinetti @Frank Vella @Emily Vella @Liza Borches @Jill Ciminero @Amy Greaser @Jennifer Looney @Leila Sweet @Courtney Tucker @David Riedel @Kendal Sandlin @Jason Wheaton