College recruiting has changed more in the last 18 months than in the previous decade. In this episode of Student of the Game, host Brad Noll sits down with old friend Dr. Enzley Mitchell, Owner of PrepSearch, to explain what families are up against now. Enzley grew up in Fort Wayne and played at Snyder High School and Spring Arbor University. He went on to play overseas, work in banking and finance, and spend 20 years in higher education as a coach and athletic director. He now uses that experience to help student-athletes and their parents find a college that fits.
Enzley explains the difference between a true advisor and a recruiting service that sells hope. He has helped families for nearly 20 years and says he has never signed a single kid or called a coach for anyone. He also says the fundamental his business is built on is access. That means honest information, a free recruiting app that will never charge for premium access to coaches, and workshops he keeps current through constant research. Brad shares his own family's experience with PrepSearch and how a simple homework assignment gave his daughter the clarity to start her college search.
The two also cover what to do when a family's goals don't match reality, why a school in Chicago built Enzley's program into its curriculum, and why winning at the game of life, for Enzley, means helping as many families as he can. For entrepreneurs, the episode shows what it looks like to give real value away for free, keep learning, and be secure enough to turn down the wrong client.
Key Takeaways
● Access is a fundamental. Enzley started PrepSearch because the families who needed recruiting information most were getting the least of it. Giving people access to information, options, and opportunities can be a business's main reason for existing.
● Lead with a needs analysis. Enzley borrowed the method from his banking career. Before any in-depth conversation, every family completes a recruiting needs analysis, so he understands their goals and pain points before he gives advice.
● Know the landscape better than anyone. His 80-95 slide presentation changes at least six times a year. Behind the scenes, he tracks schools changing divisions, programs adding or dropping sports, and new pathways like flag football and esports.
● Narrow the list on purpose. Families start with 75 schools, cut to 25 after doing their homework, and then cut to five. Like buying a home, choosing a college is a process of elimination, not a process of selection.
● Turning down a client takes wisdom. When a family's expectations don't match reality, the honest move is to tell them, and sometimes to walk away rather than take their money. Brad points out that every hour spent on the wrong client is time taken from the right ones.
● Starting early changes outcomes. At one Chicago-area school that built Enzley's program into its curriculum, the number of students using sport to continue on to college has grown from zero to around 15.
● You need one offer, not 20. For athletes who aren't elite prospects, the goal isn't a pile of offers. As Enzley puts it, "You need one offer that works."
Connect
● Student of the Game Podcast: https://www.nollteam.com/podcast
● Brad Noll on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradnoll24/
● Noll Team Real Estate: https://www.nollteam.com
● Dr. Enzley Mitchell / PrepSearch: https://prepsearch.net
● Dr. Enzley Mitchell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/enzley-mitchell-iv-6a705b381/
About Noll Team Real Estate
Since 2003, Noll Team Real Estate has been helping people in the Fort Wayne area find the freedom to live the lifestyle they want. Despite changing markets and business tactics, we have remained true to this better and improved business model by focusing on building relationships and serving others in everything we do. Whatever stage of life you are in, our goal is to provide you with the wisdom and tools necessary when buying or selling a home. We put you first to ensure an enjoyable and profitable experience.
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