How to Email College Coaches

One of the most asked questions we get is how to email a college coach. Sending an introductory email to a college coach can get your foot in the door with a program you’re interested in. But here’s the thing: coaches receive a ton of emails from recruits – sometimes hundreds or even thousands. So, just sending an email isn’t enough to get noticed. 

To improve your chances of the coach opening and replying to your email, you’ll need to write a clear, personalized email with a subject line that catches their eye. We’ve gathered some useful resources, including examples and templates, to show you how. 

How to email a college coach

Here’s a quick rundown on how to write an email to a college coach: 

1. Craft a good subject line
2. Introduce yourself and the purpose of your email
3. Make it personal
4. Include notable athletic and academic stats
5. Give an action item to the coach
6. Be clear about your follow up plan
7. Proofread for errors

Crafting a subject line for college recruiting emails

Before opening an email, college coaches want to know three things: who you are, where you’re from and how you can contribute to their program. When crafting a subject line for college recruiting emails, consider including one or more of the following: 

• Your name
• Graduation year
• Sport position(s) or event(s)
• Location (city/state)
• A standout detail. For example, your lightning-fast 40-yard dash time, GPA or impressive ACT score. Got a video attached? Let them know. Coaches are more likely to open emails with video content. 

Hear it from the experts! Listen to NCSA Coaches Davide Harris, Britta Marmon and Josh Ruggles for three winning ways to make your subject line pop for coaches.  

Subject line examples for emailing college coaches

Here are some examples of well-crafted subject lines:

• 2026 Freestyle/Butterfly: Sophia Smith, 4.0 GPA, 32 ACT, 6’0” 
• David Martinez: LF Pitcher, 2025 Grad, 1.50 ERA, Phone: (555) 555-5555 
• 6’2” Quarterback, Class of 2027: Jake Swift, Dallas TX, See Highlights 
• Emily Taylor: 2025 Libero, Digging & Passing Skills, 30 ACT, Video 

You might end up sending several emails to coaches before they open one. Let them know if it’s a follow-up to a previous contact, or if you’re planning to visit campus soon. Just a quick note at the beginning will work:

• Follow Up: Joe Smith, 2026 WR, 4.3s 40-Yard Dash, 3.8 GPA, Video 
• Campus Visit 12/11: Olivia Johnson, 2027 Shot-Put and Discus, Skills Video 
• Taylor Brown – 2027 Shooting Guard @ NIKE Elite in Chicago July 9 

What to say when emailing a college coach

Emailing a college coach can be a bit intimidating if you’re not sure what to say. In your initial email, it’s important to make a connection with the coach, express your interest in being recruited and provide concrete details so they can evaluate you as a potential recruit.  

See how Chelsea Thorpe, a D1 college volleyball player, used NCSA to send her first email to college coaches. Her journey and advice can serve as a valuable reference as you begin your own outreach to college coaches. Fun fact: Chelsea currently attends the very school she reached out to with this email! 

Example: Writing your introductory email

Writing an introductory email to college coaches becomes simpler when you break it down into three main parts: making the introduction, expressing your interest and strengths in the body copy and setting expectations for what comes next.  

• Introduction: Keep it brief, friendly and professional! Include the coach’s first or last name and key recruiting details: high school, location, graduation year and sports position/event.

• Body: Highlight what sets you apart – grades, skills, stats and any noteworthy extracurricular activities. Add a personal touch by discussing the school and program.

• Next Steps: Set the stage for future coach communications! Let the coach know when you’ll follow up and propose an action, like “I’d appreciate your feedback on my highlight video during our call.”

Don’t forget to attach or link any videos, schedules or documents you talked about. Also, consider sharing your current coaches’ contact information. College coaches often reach out to them first for more insights about you.

Here’s an example of an introductory email with each section labeled to help you write your own.  

Template for emailing college coaches

It’s tempting to copy and paste when reaching out to multiple schools, but this decreases your chances of being noticed. To stand out, you need to personalize each email for the coach you’re contacting.

Our introductory email template below can help you get started but remember that each email should be adjusted to fit that particular school. Use your judgment to decide what to include, add or exclude based on what’s relevant to your sport and the school.  

How to start an email to a college coach

Your opening paragraph to a college coach, like your subject line, should be attention-grabbing and personalized. After the initial introduction, the first one or two sentences must be distinct for each coach email you send.  

Here are some examples on how to start your email to a college coach: 

6 sample emails to college coaches

Below, you’ll find 6 sample emails from athletes to coaches. These examples will help give athletes a better understanding of the various recruiting topics they need to cover when writing emails to college coaches. 

• Athletic-focused introduction
  • Introducing yourself to a coach with an emphasis on your athletic accomplishments and stats.  
• Academic-focused introduction
  • Introducing yourself to coach with an emphasis on your academic background. 
• How to email a coach about walking on
  • This email will guide you on how to communicate your walk-on intentions to a coach. 
• Requesting a college visit
  • Learn how to approach your email to set up a visit to their school to get a better feel for the program and campus life. 
• Inviting a coach to evaluate you in person
  • This email will provide guidance on how to invite a coach to watch you compete in a game or event. 
• Follow-up email to camp invite
  • This email covers the basics of following up with a coach after a camp invite, ensuring you stay on their radar and maintain communication.

The best time to email college coaches

Our data show that it’s best to send an email to college coaches 4-8 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday. But the truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Coaches have their own preferences, and it mainly depends on their season or the NCAA recruiting calendar.  

Keep these three tips in mind when emailing college coaches: 

• Is it season? Coaches are busiest during their sport’s season, so be aware of their game schedule when emailing. 
• Know practice times. Ask coaches what time they practice during the week so you have a better idea of when they will be available to read your email. 
• How late is too late? While email timing isn’t as critical as phone calls or texts, try to avoid sending them after midnight. Even though they’ll most likely check it in the morning, email timestamps can make them wonder why you’re up at odd hours. 

3 things to do before emailing a college coach

Feeling ready to send an email to a college coach? Great! However, there are some steps to take before you hit send. A well-crafted introductory email can get you noticed, but it’s equally important to be prepared for a coach’s research or response. Here are three pre-email actions: 

1. Review your social media: Coaches will check your social media. Quickly check your accounts to ensure there’s nothing that might be offensive. Check out our social media guide for college recruiting.  
2. Update your highlight video. Including video in your introductory email is a great way to get a coach’s evaluation of your athletic skills. Make sure your video is up to date! Tips for creating a strong highlight video.  
3. Talk to your current coaches. It’s a good idea to let your current coaches know which schools you’re reaching out to. This way, they can prepare to discuss your coachability, academics, and athletic abilities. Want to know more about being a coachable athlete?

Key takeaways for emailing college coaches

Throughout this page, we’ve stressed the importance of emails in the college recruiting process, explained what coaches are searching for and given you valuable resources and tools to help you create these messages.  

NCSA Basketball Recruiting Coach, Ben Wright, shares his three key takeaways for student-athletes to keep in mind when emailing college coaches: be well-prepared, maintain professionalism and add a personal touch. By following these guidelines, you’ll be on your way to creating emails that truly stand out and make a positive impression on college coaches. 

Sending a solid email to a college coach is just the start of your journey. Ready for what’s next? Create your free profile with NCSA today and open the door to exciting opportunities for your future in sports.

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