Recruiting 101 An Innovative Guide for Coaches Parents & Future College Recruits

Michael Sondheimer spent over 30 years as the Department Recruiting Coordinator for the UCLA Athletic Department. During the Sondheimer recruiting period, UCLA won 70 NCAA Titles in 19 different sports and 15 sports were ranked #1 nationally in recruiting. UCLA's football teams went to Rose Bowls in the 80's and 90's as well as other major bowl games. During Sondheimer's work duration, the university produced more Olympians and Olympic medalists than any other college. UCLA also became the first university to win 100 NCAA titles. Sondheimer developed an "all-sport" recruiting system that was innovative and different compared to other major Division I universities. The system provided UCLA coaches a consistent recruiting platform and a combined information operation for finding and evaluating the best student-athletes across the nation and even outside the United States. It contained a compliance component that limited NCAA pitfalls that coaches can accidently have with regard to campus visits and off-campus evaluations/contacts. The system included working with athletic admissions and recruit transcripts while having regular interaction and strategy sessions with the coaching staffs to maximize recruiting their top prospects. The "all-sport" system made it easier for parents and recruits to view all aspects of the UCLA program. This included making more effective official or unofficial visits, receiving regular mailings/emails within NCAA rules, plus encouraging on-line school research. It brought a better college perspective for families and made it easier to make that important final college decision. Sondheimer's system was advanced in philosophy and execution compared to the competition. The fact he didn't play organized high school or college sports and was not a full-time coach on any level brought a fresh perspective to the recruiting process. He utilized new concepts in the national recruiting process that separated UCLA's message to the public, recruits and their families. He did this while overcoming his learning disability that was diagnosed as Asperger's Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. Sondheimer loved speaking yearly about NCAA recruiting rules and how to obtain college scholarships at high schools, youth sports clinics, coaches meetings and recruiting service retreats. His vast recruiting experience is a reason why "Recruiting 101" is written to provide innovation and advice to coaches, parents and recruits.