🎙️ Building Championship Culture with Coach Kyle Crookes

In this episode of Significant Coaching, Matt Rogers sits down with Kyle Crookes, Head Baseball Coach at the University of Central Missouri, where tradition and excellence go hand in hand. Under Crookes' leadership, UCM has become a perennial powerhouse in Division II baseball — and today, we pull back the curtain on how he builds culture, develops players, and recruits with purpose.

Coach Crookes shares how he evaluates recruits beyond the stat sheet, why coachability matters more than hype, and what it takes to sustain elite performance year after year. From behind-the-scenes staff development to helping players become better men, this conversation is full of wisdom for coaches, athletes, and parents alike.

🔗 Learn more and access tools at coachmattrogers.com

📘 Don’t miss the 5-star rated book, Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes

🗓️ And coming this summer: sport-specific recruiting journals — companion tools to help athletes stay organized, reflective, and ready for their college journey.

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Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

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Bonus Episode – Significant Recruiting w/ Kevin Brooks: What College Coaches Are Really Looking For

In this Significant Recruiting bonus episode, Matt Rogers is joined by Kevin Brooks, the legendary Head BaseballCoach at Angelo State University. With over 800 career wins, seven College World Series appearances, and a 2023 national championship, Coach Brooks brings decades of experience and insight into what it really takes to be recruited at the college level.

In this episode, Coach Brooks shares:

• What he looks for first when evaluating a recruit
• Why honesty and fit matter more than hype
• How parents can help — and hurt — the process
• The role communication plays in building trust with a coaching staff

If you're a high school athlete or a parent navigating the recruiting journey, this episode is full of real talk and practical advice from one of the best in the game.

📬 These bonus episodes will soon be subscriber-only, so make sure to follow and subscribe today to keep getting the full experience.

🎧 Visit CoachMattRogers.com for free resources, recruiting tools, and your copy of Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes.

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.

"Don't Mess with Happy" — Kevin Brooks on Building a DII Powerhouse at Angelo State

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers sits down with one of the true legends of Division II baseball — Kevin Brooks, Head Baseball Coach at Angelo State University.

With over 800 career wins, seven College World Series appearances, and a 2023 national title, Coach Brooks has turned ASU into a perennial powerhouse. But beyond the trophies and records, what makes him truly special is his humility, his passion for the game, and his relentless drive to compete.

Coach Brooks reflects on the lessons learned during two decades at the helm, how he defines success, why he still sees himself as a “competitor,” and the simple but powerful advice that has shaped his coaching: “Don’t mess with happy.”

Whether you're a coach, parent, or athlete, this conversation is packed with wisdom, perspective, and leadership gold.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share this episode, and check out all the free resources and tools available at CoachMattRogers.com.

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Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
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🎙️ Real Recruiting, Real Relationships

In this Significant Recruiting bonus episode, Matt Rogers sits down with Wade Wilson, Head Softball Coach at Texas Lutheran University and one of the most respected voices in Division III athletics. With a national championship and years of success behind him, Coach Wilson opens up about what really matters in the recruiting process—and what families often overlook.

This conversation dives deep into:

• Why Coach Wilson recruits like he’s adding a daughter to his family
• What he looks for in film and how he screens athletes with limited travel
• How a strong network and authentic connections shape his entire roster
• Why personal emails and persistence matter more than mass marketing
• His candid take on travel ball, summer burnout, and letting kids still be kids

If you’re a student-athlete or parent navigating the world of college recruiting, this episode is packed with raw, real, and refreshingly honest insights.

🎯 For more weekly recruiting advice, visit coachmattrogers.com to subscribe to the newsletter, get the book Significant Recruiting, and schedule a one-on-one strategy session.

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Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

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Did you like what you heard and want more?
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🎙️ Pushing for Greatness, Leading with Heart

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, host Matt Rogers sits down with Wade Wilson, Head Softball Coach at Texas Lutheran University and one of the most successful coaches in NCAA Division III history. With a national championship, over 450 career wins, and the highest DIII softball winning percentage of all time, Wilson has built a powerhouse in Seguin, Texas.

But behind the numbers is a coach who wrestles with the emotional weight of leadership. Coach Wilson opens up about the intense standards he holds for his program—and for himself. In one of the most moving moments of the conversation, he reflects on the toll that drive can take on relationships with his players, and the constant tension between pushing for greatness and making sure his athletes know how deeply he cares.

Matt shares how he sees his own coaching journey in Wilson’s story, and the two discuss what it means to lead with both edge and empathy.

🔸 What it really takes to sustain excellence year after year
🔸 The emotional toll of coaching—and the fear of being misunderstood
🔸 Building a team that performs like a family, not just a roster
🔸 Lessons from one of Division III’s most dominant softball programs

To get more weekly insights on college recruiting, leadership, and athlete development, subscribe to the newsletter or schedule a 1-on-1 session at coachmattrogers.com.

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.

🎙️ Building a Powerhouse Through Recruiting

In this bonus episode of Significant Recruiting with Matt Rogers, we’re joined by Taylor White, Associate Head Baseball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Texas at Tyler. Known across Division II as one of the premier recruiters in the country, Coach White has helped build UT Tyler into a national contender through relentless evaluation, development, and relationship-building.

Coach White shares the strategies behind building top tier NCAA D2 recruiting classes, what he looks for in prospective student-athletes, and how his approach to coaching infielders, hitters, and baserunners has transformed individual careers and the UT Tyler program as a whole.

With over a dozen players turned professionals and an unmatched track record of All-Americans, Gold Glove winners, and top-tier recruiting classes, Coach White reveals what it takes to build a program that lasts—and players who thrive.

🔹 Why player development is just as important as player identification
🔹 How UT Tyler recruits with both grit and purpose in the D2 landscape
🔹 Advice for high school athletes hoping to stand out to college recruiters

Whether you’re a parent, athlete, or coach, this episode gives you an inside look at the recruiting engine behind one of the most successful programs in D2 baseball today.

🔗 Learn more at CoachMattRogers.com — where you can grab a copy of Significant Recruiting, read the weekly recruiting blog, or schedule a free one-on-one strategy session with Matt.

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.

🎧 “Building Men, Not Just Champions”

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, host Matt Rogers sits down with Brent Porche, the head baseball coach at the University of Texas at Tyler — and one of the most impactful leaders in college baseball today.

Coach Porche reflects on his journey from winning a Division III National Championship to leading UT Tyler through a remarkable transition into a Top 5-ranked NCAA Division II powerhouse with a 41-9 record.

🔸 How UT Tyler built a national contender in just a few years at the D2 level
🔸 Why championship culture starts with humility, trust, and daily standards
🔸 The behind-the-scenes of winning it all — and what truly matters beyond the dogpile
🔸 A heartbreaking story early in his career that reveals his heart for his players and their families

If you’re a coach, parent, or athlete who believes the best leaders coach for life — not just for wins — this episode will stay with you long after it ends.

🎓 Learn more, read the blog, and get Significant Recruiting at coachmattrogers.com

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.

🎧 “I See My Job as a Calling”

In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, host Matt Rogers sits down with Becky Schmidt, the longtime head volleyball coach at Hope College and one of the most respected leaders in Division III athletics.

Coach Schmidt opens up about her deep-rooted belief that coaching is more than a job — it’s a calling. With over 500 wins at Hope, a national championship, and a consistent presence in the NCAA Tournament, she shares what really drives her: helping young women grow into confident, connected, and competitive people.

🔸 Why "When you win, recruit. When you lose, recruit" is her steady recruiting philosophy
🔸 How friendships, not just wins, define the college athlete experience
🔸 Why enthusiasm trumps control — and why she’s proud not to be a micromanager
🔸 The powerful impact of simply not getting in their way

If you're a coach, parent, or athlete who believes sports should be transformational, not just transactional, this episode is for you.

🎓 Learn more, read the blog, and get Significant Recruiting at coachmattrogers.com

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.