By Monte Perez:

There is no off-season in the coaching profession. With the popularity of AAU teams, Summer Leagues, and traveling squads a coach can literally watch a high school or junior college player perform every day during the week and every weekend.

Athletic staff's are no longer just recruiting high school talent. The transfer portal has coaches working double and triple overtime. 
 
Over the past few weeks the University of Fort Lauderdale has been welcoming students for on campus visits, with open arms. 

Recruiting philosophies are varied but one thing remains constant. You have to put in the work and connect with each individual. 

Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, Damon Cogdell:

"The 1st job of a head coach is to make each kid and parents feel comfortable. Coaches become like a 2nd or 3rd parent depending on the athlete's situation.

You have to build trust and let the parents know that their child is in a healthy place where the can grow as athletes, students and human beings.

"We expect our transfer WR from St.Thomas John Stphard to do big things in 2024."

 Head Women's basketball coach Alberto Jemperrie :

"The Foundation of any Basketball program begins and ends with the recruitment of quality student athletes.
 
In order to be among the best, you must outwork the rest.

Incoming Transfer Maiya Petit from Clinton College should immediately impact our women's basketball roster."

Men's Baseball Head Coach, Billy Glessner and Assistant Coach, Joe Adair:
 
"The baseball staff loves getting out and recruiting South Florida guys, but with our success (three straight world series appearances) we have also been able to make an impact recruiting on the national stage, showing what opportunities UFTL has to offer future student-athletes.
 
We actively look for super-athletic young men that fit our style and have the talent to make an early impact for the program.
 
Jaren Slusher and Layton O'Rourke are two impact arms coming together from Cuyahoga Community College in Ohio that we are expecting big things from in 2025."
 
UFTL Men's Basketball Coach, Anthony Anderson:
 
This recruiting season has been great so far. We have targeted players that fit the culture.  Our philosophy is simple "Books and Ball", so we have recruited to fit that mindset.

Three of the men we have commitments from in this stellar recruiting class are Deshaun Stigler – 6'6 Wing/Forward (Detroit MI), Corey Pope – 6'6 Guard/Forward (Miami FL), and Seighvaun Turner 6'5 Forward (Baton Rouge LA).

These men are perfect representation of the student-athletes we want representing UFTL Men's Basketball.

They should fit in with last year's freshman Chris Berry and Vugar Kuliev.

Head Cheerleading Coach Vida S. Hargrett:
 
"When it comes to recruiting, my philosophy is being relationship oriented. I believe recruiting should start by learning who the athlete is and the person they are evolving into. Recruiting is the core of a successful program.  Player-coach, and coach-player support system relationships will drive programs forward and catapult retention. I am a firm believer that a person may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel."
 
Isabela Mercado (Incoming Freshman) - Avant Garde Academy
 
Tya McCullom (Transfer Student) - Eastern Michigan University

Wilbert Johnson Head Track Coach:

"I'm recruiting student athletes who are persistent academically and athletically.

I want our athletes to be able to live a full life  and help them make their dreams come true."

From the outside looking in, I can write this without any hesitation...

No staff in the country works as hard as our UFTL coaches, both during the season and in the off-season.