Jake Boss Jr., the 16th head coach at Michigan State has become one of the most successful coaches in the school’s 131 year history. Boss has racked up a 333-269 (.553) record in 11 seasons. His teams have had five winning seasons. In seven of the last 11 years, he led the Spartans to 30-win seasons.
Under Coach Boss’s wing, the Spartans:
LRT Sports: What is the most important quality you look for in a recruit?
Coach Ross: Combination of athletic ability, academic success and a quality young man who will make our program proud.
LRT Sports: What is the best way for a recruit to get on your radar?
Coach Ross: Play well. Very few kids “fly under the radar.” Apart from that, send some video and come to camp. You need to be seen by coaches of schools you are interested in.
LRT Sports: When should an athlete contact you, what is the best way?
Coach Ross: Any time, but the NCAA rules prohibit us from replying until their junior year. Email is probably best.
LRT Sports: What are your expectations for incoming players in the classroom, in the weight room, and on the field?
Coach Ross: Work hard in all aspects.
LRT Sports: What are the do’s and don’ts of being recruited?
Coach Ross: Don’t have your parents send a letter or email on your behalf. Don’t tell me how good you are. Don’t send a “form letter” beginning with, “Dear coach, I would like to attend your school.” Do send some video so I can evaluate. Do send a personalized letter/email specific to my school to show me you have genuine interest.
LRT Sports: What is the best advice you can offer a recruit?
Coach Ross: Play hard all the time and the process will take care of itself.
LRT Sports: What really jumps out to you when reviewing a recruit’s highlight tape?
Coach Ross: Effort and attitude.
LRT Sports: What are the main do’s and don’ts for a recruit’s highlight tape?
Coach Ross: Don’t make it too long, only need to see a few clips of hitting, throwing, etc. Game footage is good, as is practice footage.
LRT Sports: When do you recommend recruits put together and share their highlight reels?
Coach Ross: Summer before their junior year.
LRT Sports: What advice do you have for recruits who get turned down by their dream schools? What are their options if they don’t gain the recruiting attention they desire?
Coach Ross: Be aggressive with the process and don’t limit yourself to one school. If your “dream school” isn’t interested or doesn’t have room, then pursue others at different levels if you truly want to play. There are a lot of places to play and there is nothing wrong with DII, DIII, NAIA, etc.
LRT Sports: How big a factor is social media when recruiting players? What advice do you have for athletes regarding social media?
Coach Ross: Very important. We have stopped recruiting some players because of their social media accounts. If your grandmother would approve of your social media presence, then it’s probably acceptable.
To read more about MSU and Coach Ross: https://msuspartans.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/jake-boss-jr-/701
Posted on March 23, 2020 in Baseball, Coach Advice, NCAA Division I