Spring College Recruiting Newsletter 2026
February 25, 2026
Welcome to the quarterly Kings Hammer College Recruiting Newsletter! The club is excited to work with you to accomplish all of your goals for this upcoming soccer year, on and off of the soccer field. This season, we will be providing this resource on a quarterly basis to help you navigate the craziness that is the college recruiting process and keep yourself on track. We hope you find value in this newsletter and we are excited to assist in this exciting process for your family!
This installment features the importance of doing your research and other criteria to consider when choosing a school.
The Soccer Recruiting Journey: The Importance of Doing Your Research
The soccer recruiting journey is an exciting step in a player’s development, but it can also feel overwhelming. With hundreds of college programs across multiple divisions and levels, one of the most important parts of the process is taking the time to do your research.
Recruiting in soccer is about much more than finding a program that wants you, it’s about finding the right fit. That means looking beyond the name of the school or the level of play and understanding how a program operates day to day. Coaching philosophy, style of play, roster makeup, player development, academic support, and team culture all play a major role in a player’s experience and growth. Equally important is for each player to understand what they personally prioritize in the process. We often refer to this as the “3 S’s”: School, Soccer, and Social. Every player will value these differently, and there is no right or wrong balance, only what best fits the individual and sets them up to thrive. Some may prioritize strong academics and long-term career goals, while others may value playing time and on-field development.
Doing your research also helps players take ownership of their recruiting journey. Understanding recruiting timelines, communication rules, and what college coaches are truly looking for allows players to be proactive rather than reactive. Coaches quickly recognize when a player has done their homework, personalized communication, thoughtful questions, and a clear understanding of the program stand out.
Equally important is being honest with yourself. Researching your own game, strengths, and areas for development helps identify programs that align with your current level and future potential. Whether your goal is immediate impact, long-term development, or balancing a strong academic experience with soccer, clarity makes decision-making easier.
The soccer recruiting process is rarely linear. There will be moments of patience, uncertainty, and feeling overwhelmed. Research provides perspective during those moments and helps prevent rushed decisions based on comparisons or external pressure. The ultimate goal is not simply to commit, but to choose an environment where you can continue to grow as a player, teammate, and person.
Other Criteria to Consider
Before thinking about specific schools that you want to add to your list, it is critical to think about what factors may be important to you in your future home. Just as each college’s soccer program is unique; each campus, each environment, and each location of the colleges will provide different individuals with different experiences. Below are five factors to consider when creating your list of schools.
Location
Colleges and Universities of all divisions can be found in the biggest cities and the smallest towns. What type of environment will you be comfortable in; urban, rural, suburban…maybe each. Are grocery stores, restaurants, entertainment, and other activities available close, or farther away? These and other environment factors should be thought about when creating your list of schools.
Campus Size
Are you looking for a school with thousands of students, or hundreds? Are you looking for a campus where you take a bus to get from one side of campus to the other, or a campus that you can walk to your classes in 5 minutes? It is important to think about campus size and what you envision your college experience looking like before deciding which schools fit your desired size demands.
Degrees of Study
Do you have a dream career path after college soccer? While pursuing dreams of becoming a professional soccer player are great, it is important to think about life without soccer as well. When thinking about potential career options and majors that may interest you, find out if the schools you are researching offer majors and areas of study that match your academic interests.
Cost of Attendance
When creating your list of schools in most situations, it is important to consider the cost of the schools you may be looking into. Depending on where you are in your search, you may have no idea if the schools you are targeting will end up supporting you with athletic financial aid. However, by looking at each institution’s website, you are able to get a better understanding on tuition, housing, books, and other costs that are associated with the school.
Distance from Home
When leaving the comfort and safety of your parent’s home, do you want to have accessibility to returning when you are having a bad day? Or are you ready to open up your wings and fly to a faraway location? When creating a list of school, think about the maximum distance you are willing to be from your hometown (or for some of you, it might be the minimum distance you want to be close to home!) This will help you to narrow your list to realistic opportunities for you.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Here is a link to a few article from Sports Recruits that continue our conversation about finding the “Right Fit” in a college.
College Recruiting Stories: Talking with Kaitlyn Daley
Recent College Commitments
Congratulations to the most recent Kings Hammer soccer players to make their college commitment decisions! Remember to post your commitment to your SportsRecruits account, send a commitment photo to info@kingshammer.com, and include or tag your club’s local Kings Hammer page on any social media posts so that we can be recognize you for your achievements!
Harlee Mason (KH Cincinnati) – University of Indianapolis
Iniyan Rajkumer (KH Mid Tennessee) – Rutgers University – Newark
Miles Mullin (KH Cincinnati) – Spartanburg Methodist College
Joshua Dill (KH Mid Tennessee) – Maryville College
Trevor Bolte (KH Cincinnati) – Hanover College
Paolo Girandola (KH Cincinnati) – Depauw University
Kaitlyn Daley (KH Mid Tennessee) – Western Kentucky University
Logan Thoss (KH Cincinnati) – Transylvania University
Brady Aubuchon (KH Cincinnati) – Mount St. Joseph University
Nahom Hunde (KH New Albany) – Wittenberg University
Holton Forman (KH New Albany) – Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Kaylee Mills (KH Cincinnati) – Maryville College
Reese Johnson (KH Cincinnati) – Youngstown State
Mallory Langner (KH Cincinnati) – University of Rio Grande
Camryn Lorentz (KH Cincinnati) – Georgetown University
Josie Hyden (KH Cincinnati) – Valparaiso University
Reese Wilkens (KH Cincinnati) – Thomas More University
Gracie Iles (KH Cincinnati) – Thomas More University
Hadley Greene (KH Cincinnati) – Thomas More University
Teena Erras (KH Cincinnati) – Lake Erie College
Lily Brennen (KH Cincinnati) – Spalding University
Karson Lang (KH Cincinnati) – Bellarmine University
Ella Wilson (KH Cincinnati) – Stetson University
Ellie Heyob (KH Cincinnati) – University of Indianapolis