September has seen a wave of college athletic recruitment, reflecting the admirable dedication of student-athletes. Behind student success is a well-structured support system provided by Milton, which fosters both academic and athletic excellence.
The College Counseling Office and Athletics department play a key role in the recruitment process for students. Assistant Director of Athletics Matthew Lawlor commented that “the head coaches… are typically [the player’s] biggest advocates.” He continued that the coaches “know the player best,” and they also “know the best fit for them.” Lawlor emphasized that one of the main criteria for hiring head varsity coaches is “how connected they are to help kids that aspire to get to the next level,” as they serve as the bridge between Milton and colleges. Niven gave credit to his football coaches for “representing and advocating for [him].” Recent Notre Dame lacrosse commit, Bridget Hunt ‘27, agreed, expressing that “[her] lacrosse coach Trish Thompson and Milton teammates pushed [her] to be the best version of [herself].”
The College Counseling office also balances many roles in the recruiting process, with Dean of College Counseling Laurén Carter expressing that the office assists with “NCAA eligibility, timelines, and understanding the differences between Division I, II, and III opportunities.”
The beginning of the college athletic recruiting process varies between sports and schools; some schools may reach out as early as sophomore year, while others will wait until junior or senior year. Lawlor remarked that “students who play spring sports are contacted earlier” most of the time, as opposed to those who play fall or winter sports. The recruiting process involves initial contact, unofficial and official visits, verbal commitments, and signing periods. The process is strictly regulated by the NCAA, which imposes certain timelines of contact periods, quiet periods, dead periods, and evaluation periods. These periods determine when colleges can have official visits, evaluate players on the field, or even contact them at all.
One assumption about college recruiting is that one must make the varsity team as a freshman to be eligible for recruitment in one's sport. Lawlor stressed that “there are kids who play at the subvarsity level for a few years who end up getting heavily recruited as they develop over time.” This is more common in, but not limited to, sports like football. However, making varsity as a freshman is an advantage because it puts one another step ahead. While boarding students may struggle with joining club teams and attending camps outside of school, Osiris Niven ‘28 conveyed that he has “had plenty of opportunities to go to college camps.” Lawlor echoed that “boarding students have the same opportunities for college recruiting as our day students.”
When choosing a college, student athletes consider various factors that influence their decision-making process. For Hunt, she “knew Notre Dame was for [her] after her visit”; she was considering the “people she wanted to grow with.” Niven had a different question on his mind: “is there an NIL opportunity, and what does the coaching look like?” NIL is a pathway that allows college athletes to receive paid contracts for their name, image, and likeness.
The commitment of student-athletes and the solid support of coaches and the college counseling office, which facilitate the path to collegiate athletics, are the foundation of Milton Academy's athletic recruitment process. Milton Academy emphasizes that all athletes, regardless of their background, have access to opportunities that recognize and honor their accomplishments within a supportive community. Every January, the athletics department hosts Signing Day, when athletes are recognized for their commitments to future colleges or universities. Carter encourages “more of our community to join us at this exciting event to cheer them on!”