Because one of the nation’s top football recruits is working with a recruiting coordinator, this type of position is drawing national attention.
The New York Times recently published a story on Brian Butler, who is handling the training and managing the recruiting of top high school tailback Bryce Brown. The article points out that this type of manager seems to be a growing field in high school football after being more common in basketball.
The article is balanced, noting that Brown keeps a lot of pressure off Butler by talking with college recruiters and handling media requests. It also raises concerns about some of Butler’s actions, as Brown’s high school coach said the manager encouraged Brown to put himself before the team.
While I’m not close enough to the story to pass judgment, I do think these coordinators have something to offer. If these types of coordinators become more common, it will be interesting to see if the NCAA updates its rulebook.
For some athletes, a coordinator might help them get some added attention. I would advise athletes and their parents to do a thorough search and meet with other athletes handled by the advisor and preferably with some of the high school coaches of those players.
If you’re interested in this position, I think a good, honest relationship with everyone involved would be a key to success. A solid reputation would help assure long-term success.