10: She Decommitted… and It Changed Everything (Part 2, Real Recruiting Stories)

In Part 2 of the Real Recruiting Stories mini-series, Susan shares Kelsey’s journey,  a rollercoaster recruiting process full of setbacks, detours, and unexpected turns that ultimately led her exactly where she was meant to be.

From committing to her second-choice school, to decommitting after a coaching change, to finally landing at the program she loved all along, Kelsey’s story proves that the muddy middle isn’t a sign of failure — it’s just part of the process.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, uncertain, or tempted to give up, this episode will encourage you to keep going. Because, as Susan reminds us, success in recruiting always goes to the girl who wants it the most.

Chapters

00:00 – The muddy middle: why recruiting rarely feels perfect

02:30 – The lake + island analogy: what the process is really like

05:00 – Why the “mud” creates doubt and second-guessing

06:15 – Meet Kelsey: her junior year recruiting journey

08:30 – First full-ride offer vs. holding out for her dream school

10:30 – Committing to her second-choice school

11:00 – When her coach left — and why she decommitted

12:30 – How roster movement creates new opportunities

13:45 – The dream school reappears (and makes an offer)

15:00 – Why the mud isn’t failure, it’s the middle

16:00 – Encouragement for athletes in the messy middle

Connect with Susan:
Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com
Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank

www.rallysend.com

Looking for a better way to stay organized and manage your recruiting? Check out www.rallysend.com—our go-to recruiting software for athletes, families, and clubs. It streamlines communication with college coaches, saves hours on recruiting outreach, and helps you stay ahead of the biggest challenge in the recruiting process: time.

Use code HEYSUSAN to save $5/month on a monthly subscription or $50 off an annual plan.