Advice from a High School Coach — Featuring Corey Winkoff, Assistant Girls Lacrosse Coach at St. Anthony's
One of the best-kept secrets in your recruiting process? Your high school coach.
High school coaches aren’t just there for game days. They invest countless hours—six to seven days a week during the spring season—helping players grow and improve. Many continue this commitment year-round, working in the off-season to develop athletes and strengthen their programs.
Here’s why your high school coach could be a huge asset in your recruiting process. They see everything—your growth from the beginning of the season to the end, and in some cases, even from middle school through graduation. They witness your grit, competitiveness, coachability, and all the intangible qualities that are hard to spot in highlight reels. College coaches often look for these characteristics, and your high school coach is uniquely positioned to share insights about who you are as a player and teammate. Those intangibles? They can make the difference between placing last or first in a conference.
Each month, we’ll tap into the expertise of high school coaches across the country to help you become the best version of yourself as a student-athlete. This month, we spoke with St. Anthony’s Girls Lacrosse Assistant Coach, Corey Winkoff, to hear his thoughts.
St. Anthony's 2024 Graduates Tess Calabria (UNC) and Brooke Long (Penn State) celebrate a goal during the 2024 high school season, where St. Anthony's went 19-0 and finished ranked #1 nationally.
Coach Winkoff’s Questions to Ask Yourself
Coach Winkoff emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and preparation. Use these questions to elevate your game before tryouts:
What are you doing now to stand out at tryouts?
How are you expanding your game?
What are you really good at, and how can you bring consistency to that one thing this spring?
It’s essential to balance your recruiting process with the priorities of your high school season. The spring season is when the magic truly happens. You’re playing at a competitive level for 6-7 days a week over three months. That intensity has the power to transform you as a player and a person.
Why Your Spring Season Matters
If you pour everything you’ve got into this upcoming season—your energy, effort, and focus—you’ll see the benefits stack up. Here’s what you’ll gain:
A Better Game: Focused dedication will evolve your skills on the field.
Recruiting Momentum: Your position as a lacrosse recruit will improve. Your opportunities will grow.
By being the best player you can be this spring, you’ll set yourself up for success in both your high school season and the recruiting process.
Traits of Top Recruits
What separates the top recruits from the rest? It’s not just about skills—it’s about mindset and their impact on others. Top recruits share these traits:
They’re great teammates who prioritize collaboration.
They love to win and bring passion to everything they do.
They make others better, using their presence to elevate their team.
They’re always expanding their game, growing a little more each day.
Keep This in Mind
Be consistent. Be relentless. But above all—be yourself.
The best version of you is what every team wants and needs. Get ready to dominate this spring!
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