By Aileen Romero-Reyes
Staff Writer
Penn State Altoona’s volleyball coach Bob Kasun shares the behind-the-scenes take on the recruitment process and why it matters.
In the competitive world of college sports, the recruitment process has taken on a new level of intensity as schools across the nation vie for top athletic talent. Penn State Altoona is letting nothing slip through the cracks in its quest to attract and recruit impressive talent for our campus.
Each coach has a different process for recruiting, but it’s about the philosophy of finding well-rounded players who will be additions to the program and represent Penn State Altoona’s athletic department in a good light. Nowadays, coaches can scout virtually too by watching videos of the player’s talents which makes the process a lot easier when communicating with prospective athletes. This way, coaches don’t have to travel out-of-state to scout prospective student-athletes. Since Penn State Altoona is a Division III campus, there are no athletic scholarships or monetary packages awarded to student-athletes. Although there is no money involved as a perk, there are other benefits to being a student-athlete. Connor Gilbert, the Director of Athletics Communication says, “All of our coaches care about their players. Not just as athletes, but as people…. I’ve watched all coaches do a great job of connecting with players and helping them to be better students and better people.”
Student-athletes can enjoy other benefits like receiving earlier access to scheduling classes due to scheduling practices. Being a part of a team gives the players opportunities to meet new people, make connections, and develop collaboration skills. The perks of being at Penn State Altoona help the players get to know each other better instead of just being another number in comparison to University Park, main campus. “It’s small enough that it’s personable but big enough that it’s Penn State,” stated Bob Kasun.
Men and Women’s volleyball coach, Bob Kasun has been busy recruiting all year for varsity volleyball, searching ubiquitously. About ten years ago, there were triple the amount of men’s volleyball players in this area, but now, it is women’s volleyball that has become popular and seems like it’s here to stay. In comparison, there are more women volleyball players than men in this area, and that’s affected the recruitment process. The recruitment process can be as quick as a little less than a month and can take as long as a year. Students have so many options to choose from, so Kasun doesn’t like to pressure prospective students since it’s an important life decision.
When it comes to recruiting women, it is convenient in the sense that Kasun usually recruits locally and regionally. However, for men, the process is longer. Since there aren’t as many male volleyball players in the area in comparison, he scouts 2-4 hours away from Altoona in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, State College, etc. Recruiting students who are on the 2+2 plan is tolerable, but there is a preference with students who are staying at Penn State Altoona all 4 years when picking the roster. There is no “one-way” to be recruited, there are multiple alleyways to make it happen.
Kasun is in touch with the local volleyball scene’s clubs, programs, and teams,– He attends tryouts, games, unofficial scrimmages, and practices so he can filter out players. He has also taken the initiative to make himself a known commodity in the area by keeping good communication with volleyball coaches and mentors. For out-of-state prospects, student-athletes usually send a video of their talent and skills, and reach out first. If interested, Kasun invites the deciding student to Penn State Altoona to check out the facilities and see if it’s a right fit.
As the head coach, he knows what he’s looking for in players. First and foremost, Kasun looks for players who want the Penn State experience and degree, along with displaying their passion and love for their sport while understanding that it’s not all just volleyball; School matters too. Skill and talent are not all it takes to become fully recruited and committed to Penn State Altoona’s athletics department. Student-athletes are students first, and therefore academics are prioritized. Academics are emphasized and staff is more than willing to show support in backing that up. “We value their success on the court as well as off the court,” said Kasun. While every coach’s recruitment process is unique, Kasun looks for different personalities and perspectives because that’s what it takes to make a team work.
Overall, the team has goals they want to achieve like winning their respective championships, and tournaments. Kasun’s goal is to have the entirety of both the men’s and women’s teams be fully recruited. About 80% of the men’s volleyball team is recruited, and almost 100% of the women’s volleyball team is recruited. Along with this, he’s trying to get a roster of 16-18 players on each team so that everyone gets a chance on the court.
In light of these events, Penn State Altoona is increasingly focusing on building strong relationships with recruits, showcasing its sports programs and facilities while highlighting academic opportunities on campus. Official visits, personalized communication, and transparent dialogue between coaches and recruits are essential elements of successful recruiting efforts.
For student-athletes, the recruitment process offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue their athletic potential while finding comradery along the way with their teammates. Connor Gilbert adds, “Each team is a family. We’re a bit of a tight-knit family here in the community.”