Bryan Cioffoletti is the athletic director, head boy's baseball coach, and head girl's basketball coach at the Lawrence School in Sagamore Hills, Ohio. Coach Cioffoletti was a college athlete himself, playing Division II baseball. With 11 years under his belt running the athletic department, basketball and baseball coach Bryan Cioffoletti had some great advice for high school recruits:

1. What do you tell your athletes about the recruiting process?

One thing I learned when I was in high school and I wanted to play college baseball was doing a lot of it yourself. College coaches don't go out and recruit as much as people think. You really have to sell yourself.

Do your research. Research what you want to do after your sports career ends. You really have to dig in and understand that you are going to do the majority of the work. I will help you, but if you want to do it, it is on you. 

2. How do you help parents who are going through the recruiting process for the first time?

Again, do your research and be open to all the schools that are out there. Be open to what your kid wants to study. There are so many more options now so let your kid follow their own journey. 

3. What is the difference between basketball and baseball recruiting?

I tell my basketball players that when you are getting recruited, you are talking about 12 roster spots. For baseball, you keep 25 players. Your chances of making a roster for basketball are way lower than other sports. 

To get yourself noticed, you have to play AAU and travel ball. Make sure your highlight tape is edited and up to date. You have to put the work in, especially for sports that have limited roster spots.

4. What is your advice to make great highlight tapes?

I remember my dad had a camera at every one of my games. I remember sitting in my basement and editing that on VHS tapes and sending those out. The fact that kids walk around with an HD camera in their pocket and have no film is crazy. You can film and edit your highlight tape all on your phone. It's so easy. 

For baseball, you don't necessarily need game film. If you are in the cages, take your phone out, set it up, and let it go. Then, you can edit it and send it out. 

Keep it short, you don't need music, just get your highlights in. 

5. What has been your proudest accomplishment as an athletic director/coach?

When I first started here, there were only six varsity sports. I ended up adding five more sports within my first two or three years here. When we started those other sports, we really started to see those kids trickle into where they fit best. 

Adding to that, I really tried to make us not be that “W” on everybody's schedule. I really wanted us to compete and turn our seasons around. Since I've been here, we've had quite a few championships, a couple of conference MVPs, and a couple of coach of the year awards. 

6. What is your advice to other athletic directors or coaches to help kids get recruited?

I think it goes back to research. Learn the Eligibility Center and all of those interworkings. Be open with athletic directors about being open with your players. Sometimes, we can be the dream killers when we tell kids that they aren't at the level they think they are. Learn the levels of NCAA, NAIA, and JUCO. 

7. What is the toughest part about your job when it comes to the recruiting process?

I would say letting players know what level they truly are when they see it differently. I hate saying it, but sometimes we have to be the dream killers. 

8. Do you have anything final to add?

Just be open to every possibility if your dream is to be playing college sports. Be open and work hard at it. I can't tell you how many VHS tapes I sent out in the mail. If you want to play, you can get there.