Text vs Email: A Guide for Student-Athletes

When it comes to recruiting, both texting and emailing college coaches are important. Each plays a different role in showing interest and keeping the process moving. Here’s how to think about them:

When to Use Text

• High-ranked athletes often receive texts from coaches first.
• Texting usually happens once a coach is already interested and wants quicker communication.
• Great for staying top-of-mind and responding quickly.
• Often with assistant coaches or recruiting coordinators.

When to Use Email

• Expands opportunities beyond just the coaches you are texting.
• Helps “surround the target school” with multiple touchpoints (like in business sales: email, text, IDs, etc.).
• Keeps your process professional and organized.
• Useful for looping in the head coach (HC) if you’re only texting with an assistant.
• Shows you’re serious and running a wider recruiting process.

Why Use Both?

• Signals urgency. If a coach sees you emailing and texting, they know you’re in active conversations and may move faster.
• Prevents stalling. Sometimes coaches show early interest, then go quiet (“Showing High Interest, Then Stalling”). Keeping both channels active helps keep momentum.
• Builds relationships across the staff. Different coaches on the same team may see your messages differently.

Pro Tip

Think of texting as fast and informal and emailing as professional and strategic. Together, they create the best recruiting impact.