Matt Fiedler is a former collegiate and MiLB baseball player. Before his professional career, he played for the University of Minnesota and received some high accolades including Big Ten Player of the Year, First Team all-Big Ten, and Academic All-District. Fiedler sat down with 2aDays to share his recruiting experiences and his tips can benefit athletes in all sports, whether they want to go pro or not.

1. At what point did you realize you could play baseball at the next level? How did you find out?

I realized the summer of my junior year, I was receiving emails and letters from division one colleges.

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2. Did you have any idea what schools you were interested in, did you reach out to them first?

No, not any particular schools. I was open to any and all schools willing to give me an opportunity. I was looking for the right fit.

3. Who did you listen to during the beginning of the recruiting process? Did that change as you became more knowledgeable of the process?

I relied on my family and a few trusted coaches [but] I relied on those people less and less throughout the process because I had to make the decision.

4. How involved were your parents during the recruiting process?

My parents were there more as a support system and there for advice. They would occasionally ask questions but wanted me to take a lead role in the recruiting process.

Related: Our Parents' 4 Key Jobs in the Athletic Recruitment Process

5. Before you committed and signed your National Letter of Intent with the University of Minnesota, you verbally committed to Notre Dame. What were some of the reasons for that change?

I was in a car accident that made me reprioritize things, and I wanted to play somewhere closer to home. When I stepped on Minnesota's campus, it felt like the right fit.

6. How much communication did you have with the head coaches during the recruiting process?

Head coach involvement varied from school to school, all depended on the school's recruiting coordinator.

7. In your case, was your relationship with the coach a key point of recruiting?

The coaches were a big factor at every school. I wanted to make sure I [could] establish a relationship with them, but it ultimately came down to the school because coaches can come and go.

8. If you had honest and anonymous head coach reviews from their past and current players like 2aDays provides, would you have used Locker Room Talk as a resource?

Yes, it is always nice to have honest information about what it is like playing for a coach.

Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits

9. What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who is just starting to get recruited?

Make sure you're the one–not your parents–doing the contact of the coaches. Also, don't get enamored with the Division One label and facilitates–look for the place that is a better fit for you on a deeper level.

Come back every Thursday for Athlete Interviews on college recruiting and advice. Have a story idea or know an awesome athlete/coach we should interview? Email us at [email protected]

Image Credit: University of Minnesota Athletics

* Originally published on February 16, 2023, by Tyler Hanson