Recruiting Essentials

The Recruiting Essentials blog is PBR Plus subscriber-only content that explores how the college baseball recruiting process works  – from the first interaction with a college coach until a student-athlete steps on campus.

Our target audience includes high school baseball players that strive to play baseball at the next level, their families, coaches, as well as anyone with an interest in learning more about the college baseball recruiting process

Our main emphasis will be information related to NCAA Division I recruiting and eligibility rules as these are the most complex and having an understanding of these first will make learning how the other levels work much easier.

In addition to features on recruiting and eligibility rules we will also be posting content that take a close look at college baseball recruiting from a real world perspective in analysis, quick tip, Q & A and mailbag articles.

Topics we will cover:

• NCAA, NJCAA and NAIA recruiting and eligibility rules
• How to write a letter/e-mail to a college coach
• College visits
• In depth look at athletic scholarships and percentages
• Academic scholarships and need-based aid
• NCAA, NJCAA and NAIA rules specific to baseball – roster size, scholarship slots, walk-ons, etc
• Transfer issues - 2-4, 4-4, 4-2-4
• Q & A and Mailbag – answers to questions from prospects and parents

Recruiting essentials Re-Boot - Brandon Hall

ABOUT BRANDON HALL

Prior to becoming the PBR North Carolina Scouting Director, Hall spent 18 years coaching at the Division I level in North Carolina. Raised in Raleigh, Hall coached 14 years at UNC Charlotte, including seven years as associate head coach and 11 seasons as the recruiting coordinator. Prior to joining the coaching staff at Charlotte, Hall spent four seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, UNC Wilmington, where he also worked with the pitchers. In his 18 seasons as an assistant at the two schools, Hall's teams have won eight regular-season championships and seven of his pitching staffs have been ranked nationally in ERA, including the top spot in the nation in 2007 (at 2.64). 

Recruiting essentials archive - Sean Mccann

ABOUT SEAN MCCANN

With 18 years coaching experience at various levels of college baseball, including 9 years as recruiting coordinator at Big 12 Conference schools Missouri and Kansas State, McCann brings a wealth of experience to his new position as director of Prep Baseball Report Kansas and Recruiting Essentials editor. He has an impressive record as a talent-evaluator and has developed a network of contacts that include some of the top head coaches and recruiting coordinators in all of college baseball.

Most recently McCann served as pitching coach/recruiting coordinator at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS, from 2003-11, working under head coach Brad Hill. During his first six seasons at K-State the program improved its position in the Big 12 Conference standings every year, culminating in the Wildcats' first ever NCAA Regional selection in 2009 beginning a streak of 3 straight NCAA Regional appearances. During his tenure as recruiting coordinator at K-State, 28 signees went on to earn All-Big 12 Conference accolades at least once during their careers, including 12 First-Team All-Big 12 performers, 3 Big 12 Player of the Year Award winners and a Big 12 Pitcher of the Year.

McCann was the the pitching coach/recruiting coordinator at the University of Missouri, under Tim Jamieson during the 2002-03 school year. That spring Missouri appeared in their first NCAA Regional in 7 years. As recruiting coordinator he signed two eventual Team USA members Hunter Mense and Max Scherzer (2005 Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and current Detroit Tigers star).

The year before coaching at Missouri, McCann served as head coach at Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City, Louisiana. From 1997-2000 McCann served as pitching coach/recruiting coordinator at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, working alongside current Mississippi State University head coach John Cohen.

Working under Brad Hill for the first time, McCann served as assistant coach at the University of Central Missouri from 1994-97. UCM appeared in the NCAA Division II College World Series twice during his three seasons there, finishing 3rd and 5th in the nation. During his stay in Warrensburg, UCM signed 13 eventual First-Team All-MIAA performers, including 4 Conference MVP's and a Conference Pitcher of the Year.

McCann spent the 1993-94 season at the University of Mississippi working under former MLB player Don Kessinger as a volunteer coach.