Want some recruiting tips? No matter your sport, all athletes can learn from Matt Kelly.

Coach Kelly just rounded out his third season as the Head Coach of the Division 1 Women's Ice Hockey team at Providence College but before joining the Friars, Kelly served as the Head Scout for USA Hockey and the Women's National Team. During his time with USA Hockey, Kelly won eleven gold medals. He was responsible for maintaining the player selections for both the U-18 and U-22 teams. Before stepping into his role with USA Hockey Coach Kelly was the Assistant Coach at Clarkson University, where the team captured the National Championship in 2014. At Clarkson, Kelly recruited many high-profile players including a Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Winner, 10 Patty Kaz nominees, and two ECAC players of the year.

2aDays: What advice would you give to a high school athlete looking to play at the next level?

Keep improving your foundation skills for the sport you play.  Start focusing on strength and conditioning. Don't overlook the mental side of the game and try to improve your mind so you get comfortable performing in uncomfortable situations.

2aDays: What is the most important qualities you look for in an athlete you are recruiting? What is a big turn off that an athlete can do to get off your radar?

Most important quality is work ethic and how dedicated they are to improving their craft.  I like players that work with skill coaches or get extra ice to work on their game during the offseason and during the season.

Being a bad teammate or a selfish hockey player is a big turn off.  When I go recruiting, I like to see players body language and how the react to their mistakes and their teammates mistakes.

2aDays: What in the number one piece of advice that you can offer a potential recruit when it comes to official visits?

When it comes to official visits usually those recruits have already narrowed down their choices.  So, when they get to campus, I usually try to encourage them to meet everyone on the team and throw themselves into our culture so they can get a good feeling of whether or not they could see themselves being a part of our program for four years.  I also try to encourage them to be themselves and ask many questions.

2aDays: When is the right age to start contacting coaches and how should they contact you? Phone, email, social media etc.?

With the new NCAA rules going into effect this spring, recruits will not be able to talk with us until their Junior year of high school.  But before that, the rules stated players should reach out once they are in high school.   They can reach out with emails and phone calls.

2aDays: Would you say committing too early is an issue for the student-athlete? Why or why not?

I think as long as the student-athlete and their parents are doing their due diligence there are no issues.  Many young student-athletes have enjoyed getting the process done so then they can focus on their grades and sports development and don't have those stressors later down the road.

2aDays: What are some of the qualities that make your high achieving athletes successful? Is there a quality that they have that separates them from the rest?

Motivated on and off the ice.  They are students of the game. Enthusiastic about coming to the rink every day.  Being able to be at their best under pressure. Control the controllable.

2aDays: How important is academic success to the recruiting process? What is the average ACT/SAT/GPA that you look for?

It's very important.  I think the recruit that takes care of business in the classroom usually is going to be successful on the ice as well.

Related:  DI Ice Hockey Player: My ACT Score Kept me out of my Dream School

2aDays: How active should parents be in the recruiting process? Do you want to hear from them or the athlete?

I want to hear from both.  I want to be able to communicate and form a relationship with the recruits and parents.  The parents are sending their child to play for us so they need to be comfortable with me and how I coach and teach.

2aDays: What is the best piece of advice that you give to a current college athlete?

Be an incredible teammate.  You're a part of something bigger than yourself.

Have a story idea or know an awesome athlete/coach we should interview? Email us at [email protected]

* Originally published on June 14, 2022, by Kathleen McHugh