Recruiting Wide Receiver Recruiting

SeabeeGator

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Maybe Dan should consider hiring a highly experienced sales executive as Director of Recruiting (and Sales Training) ... somebody with a proven track record, from outside of football. The traditional football-knowledgeable coaches and support staff retain responsibility for identifying and prioritizing prospects ... but the Sales Guy manages the pipeline, provides sales training and tactical advice, and gets our top targets closed and landed, etc.

Reading the body language and talk of prospects and their families accurately, especially when the kids are here on visits and not wanting to reveal their full thoughts, is clearly a skill that has been lacking at Florida for a number of years. We're close to Zero for a Gazillion in landing guys on ESD or NSD who we thought we had a chance at getting ... which is strong evidence that we're just making hapless guesses that are biased by the projection of our needs.

How many college position coaches address their weaknesses by taking sales-type training courses in the off-season? I'd guess "not many."

And for our team, that'd be "Not nearly enough."
And I’m guessing the 84 Gator MBA guy is the ideal candidate to provide said training? :rotfl:

Interesting idea but plenty of coaches can sell a program without formal training - we just don’t have many of them for whatever reason. From a business standpoint, it seems like CDM acknowledges personnel/marketing as important but focuses extensively on operations.
 

Yankeetown

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And I’m guessing the 84 Gator MBA guy is the ideal candidate to provide said training? :rotfl:

Absolutely not. I have zero interest in sales, per se. I am good at thinking in unconventional ways.

But if you look at Dan's operation from a SWOT perspective, sales competence screams out as a problem. So he can replace people, or he can train 'em up. Or some of both, selectively. Or do nothing, and ultimately plateau as an also-ran.
 
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SeabeeGator

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Absolutely not. I have zero interest in sales, per se. I am good at thinking in unconventional ways.

But if you look at Dan's operation from a SWOT perspective, sales competence screams out as a problem. So he can replace people, or he can train 'em up. Or some of both, selectively. Or do nothing, and ultimately plateau as an also-ran.
Strengths: better than the last guys, well organized (generally), wins games he should
Weaknesses: sales, staff management, poor AD/financial support
Opportunities: plenty of talent for assistant upgrades available, weak in-state competition, only UGA is real competition in East, winning the SEC guarantees playoffs which is a quick path to legitimacy with prospective talent (coaches and players)
Threats: Out of state schools steal best in state prospects, other programs offer much better benefits, other programs are prioritized over football - the revenue producer.

Add as you wish, since we’re getting dorky. And toss in your internal/external analysis, alternatives (do nothing is not acceptable), recommendation, and conclusion. You skipped the intro but we’ll survive.
 

Ancient Reptile

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No real knowledge, but I always thought salesmen were born not made. I have long been envious of their insights and grasp of psychology. I once went car shopping out of town. Salesmen looks me over and suggests that I am a college professor. Missed my field by a mile though-- said mathematics and, of course, it was physics.
 

JDW

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No real knowledge, but I always thought salesmen were born not made. I have long been envious of their insights and grasp of psychology. I once went car shopping out of town. Salesmen looks me over and suggests that I am a college professor. Missed my field by a mile though-- said mathematics and, of course, it was physics.

Do you have a jacket with elbow patches and a pipe?
 

SeabeeGator

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No real knowledge, but I always thought salesmen were born not made. I have long been envious of their insights and grasp of psychology. I once went car shopping out of town. Salesmen looks me over and suggests that I am a college professor. Missed my field by a mile though-- said mathematics and, of course, it was physics.
The pocket protector, pens, and calculator watch confused the salesman.
 

JDW

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As long as you’re studious I think you’re covered...there’s some professions that are pretty easy to read
 

Woodstork

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No real knowledge, but I always thought salesmen were born not made. I have long been envious of their insights and grasp of psychology. I once went car shopping out of town. Salesmen looks me over and suggests that I am a college professor. Missed my field by a mile though-- said mathematics and, of course, it was physics.

It’s probably both. My Dad was a natural, but spent a lot of time honing his skills. I think a good seller has a God-given ability to read the room and think on the fly. From there, training and experience helps focus the message for impact. Sales is a just a special form of credible storytelling. Every business has an unwritten language for this that can be learned.

So I think someone with even just slightly above average intuition can learn to sell well. Urban was notably a psychology major. Never met him, but he doesn’t strike me as being overly charismatic. Probably learned to sell using psychology, but was building upon a reasonable amount of innate social intelligence.
 

Swamp Donkey

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He probably read your car. They pay big attention to that.

University parking sticker?
 

Concrete Helmet

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I spent a little over 12 years in sales after leaving the Culinary field....never was a natural and it only came natural when I matched personalities with a client....it didn't help that I truly hate about 95% of the Worlds population and don't mind telling you if I don't like you :lol:.

One thing that I did learn though was that all "Sales Trainers" were usually guys that couldn't cut it on in sales but ended up in that position because they had a degree and knew who to blow....
 

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