Recruiting Timeline
Maybe the most important information on this web site.
Scholastic year by year break down of what to be doing, and when to do it, to help a player achieve the goal of playing at the "next level" |
Message Boards
The "World Famous" High School Baseball Web message board forums.
Ask questions, offer comment or opinion. Stop by and join our community.
|
|
Questions About NCAA Division II Colleges
Coach Mike Metheny
Head Baseball Coach
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
The 2002 season marks the twenty-second year Mike
Metheny will guide the Savage baseball team.� His Southeastern career has
spanned over thirty years as a player, graduate assistant, assistant coach, and
now head coach.� Metheny's college coaching record is 873-312-2.
While a member of the NAIA, his teams enjoyed 7
trips to the NAIA World Series with 2 runner-up finishes.� Savage teams claimed
14 conference championships and he was recognized as the conference coach of the
year 9 times and regional coach of the year 7 times.
In January, 1999, Metheny was inducted into the
NAIA Hall of Fame at the American Baseball Coaches Convention in Atlanta,
Ga
Southeastern became eligible for NCAA II in 1999
and Metheny's teams quickly gained national recognition as they captured a Lone
Star Conference championship and finished runner-up at the South Central
Regional.
In 2000, the Savages vaulted to another Lone Star
North Championship and a berth in the South Central Regional.� After losing the
first game of the tournament, Southeastern battled through the losers bracket to
win the Regional and advance to the NCAA II World Series in Montgomery,
Alabama.� The Savages swept through the Series and on June 3, 2000, were crowned
as the National Champions.
Metheny was honored in January, 2000 at the
American Baseball Coaches Convention in Nashville, TN as the National Coach of
the Year.
Question: Can a Division II baseball program offer "paid for"
recruiting visits? (like at DI schools) |
Answer: Yes
Question: How many baseball scholarships are allowed at the DII schools?
|
Answer: 9
Question: As a DII program how do you define the "geography"
of your recruiting area? |
Answer: We recruit primarily in the SE quadrant of
southeastern Oklahoma but also include all areas of Oklahoma.
It is much more economical for us to recruit Oklahoma players
and because of the high quality of players, we feel we can stay
in our state and be very competitive at the national level.
Question: How would you compare the baseball talent at
the DII schools to those of other classifications?
|
Answer: Most DII colleges can compete with all
levels of competition with the exception of the above
average DI teams. We have recently moved from NAIA and
the quality programs in that classification can compete
the same. I think quality DII, quality NAIA, and small
DI programs are very close.
Question: What is the general opinion of Division II
baseball coaches about the "online internet recruiting
services?" |
Answer: It is interesting to see these but I am
not sure how practical they are. You will be exposed to
many more players but for me, this increases the work and
responses I should make. In reality, I am not sure how many
of these players will become prospects for our program.
Question: What percentages of your baseball players
receive academic assistance (scholarships, etc.)?
|
Answer: I would estimate that approximately
10% will receive academic assistance.
Question: How important is it for a player to attend
a college team's camp? |
Answer: We do not have camps or tryouts so it is not
important. It would be helpful if you had camps, but for us, i
t is not practical.
Question: How important are "walk-on" players to your program
and DII schools in general? |
Answer: Walk-ons are players we know absolutely nothing
about and only a small percentage of these will make our spring
team. We will have several invited players who you might consider
walk-ons - that is, they do not get scholarship help - and they can
be very important. Approximately 4-6 of these players will make
our 22-25 man roster.
I would think that many DIIs would encourage walk-ons
because of limited scholarships.
Question: How important are junior college transfers (if at all)
to your program? |
Answer: JUCO players are the most important type
of players to our program. In Oklahoma, we have several
junior colleges. They get the best high school players for
the first 2 years, then we can recruit these. I would estimate
that at least 80% of our players have been at a JUCO. They have
less options, have 2 years of maturation, and are 2 years more
experienced. They are our best choice.
Question: When should a player or high school coach send a
letter of introduction to a DII coach? |
Answer: In the fall of his senior year is the
best but early spring is not too late.
Question: Is it better to have the player or the high school
coach send the letter - or does it make any difference:
|
Answer: I would rather have a recommendation from a
coach but it I get many letters from players.
Question: Should the introductory letter include statistics
from a player's high school and/or summer team?
|
Answer: The high school would be the best but I would
also consider an American Legion type summer program.
Question: With the recent growth of the high school
baseball player showcase events - How important are these events
to you and your staff? |
Answer: Very important because we do not have the camps
or try-outs on our campus. So, we go to showcases, all-star
events, etc. to get a look at these players.
Question: How important is a player's physical appearance?
I do not mean is he 6'-1" tall and weighs 205 lbs. What I am referring
to is tattoos, body piercings, odd hair styles, manner of dress etc.
Are any or all of these items a "negative" when a college coach
sees a prospective player? |
Answer: My age puts me in the "old school" of thought
and honestly, these things are initial distractions to me.
However, the personality of the player will affect me more in
the long run and if he is the right kind of person, these
distractions will not affect my relationship with the player.
Question: So many high school players have the attitude
that if they do not play college baseball at one of the D1 top
40 programs they have failed. What advice can you offer a high
school player regarding the "big school" stigma?
|
Answer: If they can play there, go and play.
If they can't, then choose a place and go play. Everyone
can't go DI, some should not go DI. If you go DI, you may
be a big fish in a big pond. If things didn't work out at the
DI, then he might be a big fish in a small pond. Go someplace
and play. A lot of players at our level go into professional
baseball and some make it to the majors!
Question: Are the recommendations / opinions of the player's
coaches and teachers a part of your scouting / recruiting
process? |
Answer: Yes. All of the above things are a part of the process.
Question: What other advice would you give a high school baseball
player that hopes to continue playing in college?
|
Answer: The best step would be a summer team after
high school graduation such as American Legion. If he can make
this team, then look for a university that needs his position or
"him". For us, the next step would be a JUCO unless we really had a
need for this player. Then, after 2 years, look at the options again.
Coach Mike Metheny
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Durant, Oklahoma 74701
Southeastern Oklahoma State Baseball
dwester@sosu.edu99(athletic director)
|
|
Return to the main portion of the site
"click" on the logo
|