University of West Florida head football coach, Pete Shinnick, became the first head football coach in the program's history in 2016. Prior to coaching at UWF, Shinnick was a head coach at UNC Pembroke where he started the program. He coached for seven years finishing with a record of 50-24 (.676 winning percentage) and led the team to be ranked at number 8 in the American Football Coaches Association national poll.
Likewise, Shinnick was the head coach at Azusa Pacific where he had a record of 53-22 (.707 winning percentage), led the team made five total appearances in the NAIA playoffs, including an appearance in the semifinals, and set a total of 77 school records. Needless to say, Coach Shinnick knows a thing or two about winning and recruiting. Here's his best tips to help recruits like you make it to the next level
Q: When should an athlete contact you, and what is the best way? (age, grade, time of year, email, phone or other)
A: Email at any time. Send highlight tape and stats.
Q: Where do you look for your football recruits? (highlight tapes, showcases, camps or other)
A: Our camp is our first place. Highlight [tapes] are second.
Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits
Q: What is the most important quality you look for in a recruit?
A: The type of person and student they are.
Q: What are some mistakes to avoid?
A: #1 is don't limit your options.
Q: What advice would you offer a recruit who is looking to play football at University of Western Florida?
A: Work as hard in the classroom as you do on the field.
Q: What really jumps out at you when reviewing a recruit's highlight tape?
A: Athletic movement and speed.
Q: What are the main do's and don'ts for a recruit's highlight tape?
A: Do's: Variety of clips showing your athletic ability.
Don't's: Repeating the same play over or in slow motion.
Related: 5 Must-Do's For Your Football Highlight Tape (Plus 3 Things to Avoid)
Q: When do you recommend recruits put together and share their highlight reels? Is it best to make their highlight reel during the offseason, in the middle of season, or after each game?
A: We want to see junior year film. We want to see a midseason and postseason highlight video.
Q: What advice do you have for recruits that get turned down by their dream schools? What are their options if they don't gain the recruiting attention they desire?
A: There are a lot of schools that play football. Is your dream to play football? Not everyone can play D1 football but there are still a lot of great opportunities out there.
Q: How big a factor is social media when recruiting players? What advice do you have for athletes regarding social media?
A: Social media is a big factor. We stop recruiting guys because their social media is inappropriate. Be smart in what you post.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
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* Originally published on September 16, 2022, by 2aDays Staff
