Hey, I’m Travis Smith. I’ve spent 10 years in athletic departments working with 1,000+ college athletes and 100 head coaches.
I offer a different perspective on college athletics recruiting. I’ve seen what happens when the athletic fit looks great during recruiting, only to see the institutional, academic, financial, cultural or personality fit doesn’t work once they enroll.
That’s why my approach is different.
Getting your athlete recruited is exciting. But it’s only part of the college athlete experience..
As a NCAA compliance officer, athletic academic advisor and administrator—I saw firsthand how families can make major college and life decisions based almost entirely on the sport-specific athletic opportunity in front of them.
I’ve helped recruit hundreds of student-athletes. I’ve sat across the desk from families and explained why our institution was the right place for their son or daughter. I’ve worked with hundreds of college coaches and thousands of student-athletes.
I help families step back from the recruiting process and ask a bigger question:
What college is actually the right fit for my athlete?
Together, we’ll identify your family’s values, non-negotiables and preferences and use them to build a college list that goes beyond athletic division, scholarship amount or the name on the front of the jersey.
I’ll help you understand:
- The differences between NCAA/NAIA divisions and types of institutions
- Academic fit and eligibility requirements
- Your athlete’s academic/career goals and how schools align with that
- The financial health and stability of a college
- Coaching stability and the possibility that your coach may not be there for four years
- What coaches actually think about recruiting do’s and don’ts
- How to do your own college town tour on the official/unofficial visits
- What factors families often overlook when evaluating schools
- The college town and community your athlete will actually call home
- Opportunities to find a church and become connected to a community of faith
My Perspective Goes Beyond Recruiting
My experience isn’t limited to knowing Indiana colleges.
I study college athletics nationally through my doctorate in Higher Education and Student Affairs at Indiana University.
That gives me a perspective that is different from a traditional recruiting consultant. I’m not simply looking at whether your athlete can play there.
I’m asking:
Will this institution be a good place for your athlete to learn, grow, compete and live?
A Family-First Approach
I don’t believe the goal is to get your athlete the biggest offer, the highest division or the most recognizable school.
The goal is to help your family make a wise decision about the next four years of your athlete’s life.
You should know that my faith in Jesus Christ is part of how I approach that responsibility. Before each family conversation, I pray for the right words, patience and grace, knowing this is a high-stress situation for many families right now. I fully believe this is ministry work where I can use my best abilities to help the most people.
I want to approach every family conversation the way I would if you were my own aunts, uncles and cousins going through it. Because that is where this idea was born, by me helping my cousin and her prospective college athlete navigate the confusion of recruiting.
