What College Coaches Are Really Looking For (It’s Not What You Think)

Recently I listened to an episode of On The Subject Podcast with Michael Vilardo featuring Duke Head Baseball Coach Cory Muscara.

One segment in particular should be required listening for every athlete, parent, and coach in youth sports.

Because what he’s looking for in recruits isn’t what most families obsess over.

It’s not just tools.

It’s not just metrics.

It’s not just exposure.

It’s something deeper.

Tools Are Great. But Can You Play?

Coach Muscara said it plainly:

“There’s a lot of guys out there that have tools and they can’t play the game.”

Yes — arm strength matters. Speed matters. Exit velocity matters.

But he’s coached:

• Players who couldn’t run… and hit .350.
• Pitchers who didn’t throw hard… and got outs.

And his line that stuck with me:

“I like outs.”

In other words:

Production > Projection.
Execution > Aesthetic.
Feel for the game > Showcase metrics.

In today’s recruiting world, we are flooded with numbers. But coaches still sit in the stands asking one basic question:

Can this kid actually play?

The Disappearing Art of True Evaluation

Muscara also talked about how rare true evaluation has become.

There was a time when coaches would watch a player 8–10 games.

They’d see:

• How he adjusts.
• How he fails.
• How he competes when tired.
• How he interacts with teammates.

Today, everything is accelerated — transfers, early commitments, rankings, social media clips.

But the best evaluators still rely on:

• Gut instinct
• Intuition
• Pattern recognition
• Player comparisons
• Deep recall

You can’t fake who you are over time.

And no highlight reel replaces 10 games of real baseball.

The Intangibles That Get You Recruited

When asked about character traits, Muscara didn’t hesitate.

Body language.

How do you respond to adversity?

He watches:

• The dugout.
• Interactions with teammates.
• Reaction after failure.

And then he said something every parent should hear:

“If guys don’t run hard 90s, I’m out.”

If a player has to be told to run hard to first base, he’s not recruiting him.

Not because running fast matters.

Because effort reveals identity.

Running hard 90 feet is a habit.
It’s a standard.
It’s who you are when nobody’s clapping.

The “Chip” He Loves

Muscara described the type of athlete he gravitates toward:

• Scrappers.
• Underdogs.
• Players who lay out for loose balls.
• Guys who get hit by a pitch, sprint to first, then steal second.
• Competitors with fire.

His words:

“I want dudes that have a chip.”

Not entitlement.
Not flash.
Not “Cadillacing” down the line.

A chip.

An edge.
An aggressiveness.
A refusal to coast.

That chip travels well — in baseball and in life.

The Trait That Might Matter Most: You Have to Want It

Then came a part of the conversation that might be the most important lesson of all.

He talked about culture at Duke.

They lift four days a week.
They do early work.
Coaches make themselves available.

But here’s the key:

They don’t drag players to the field.

He said:

“If we have to drag you to the field, you’re probably not the right guy for us. You should be dragging us to the field.”

That’s powerful.

He shared how growing up, his father never said no to hitting him fly balls or throwing batting practice.

But he had to ask.

He was the one pulling his dad outside.

That’s how he coaches now.

“We’ll do whatever we can for you. But you’ve got to ask. You’ve got to want to be around.”

Intrinsic motivation.

Ownership.

Desire that doesn’t need to be manufactured.

That’s what separates players.

What Every Kid, Parent, and Coach Should Take From This

If you’re a player:

• Run hard 90s.
• Compete after failure.
• Bring energy to your dugout.
• Ask for extra work.
• Be the one dragging your coach to the field.

No coach wants to chase you.

They want to support you.

If you’re a parent:

Shift the dinner table conversation.

Instead of:
“How many hits did you get?”

Try:
“Did you compete?”
“Did you respond well?”
“Did you bring energy?”
“Did you ask your coach for feedback?”

And maybe the hardest one:

“Do you love it enough to ask for more work?”

If the parent wants it more than the kid, coaches can see that too.

If you’re a coach:

Celebrate:

• Hustle.
• Body language.
• Teammate behavior.
• Self-driven effort.

The recruiting world may be noisy.

But the traits college coaches value haven’t changed.

The Bigger Lesson for Youth Sports

We spend enormous energy chasing exposure.

Showcases.
Rankings.
Profiles.
Social clips.

But what Muscara described isn’t complicated.

He wants:

• Competitors.
• Teammates.
• Scrappers.
• Self-starters.
• Kids who love the game enough to ask for more.

That’s available to everyone.

Effort is free.
Energy is free.
Ownership is free.

And those qualities don’t just earn scholarships.

They build strong adults.

At Youth Inc., we believe youth sports done right develops the whole person — not just the stat line.

This interview was a powerful reminder:

The kids who run hard, compete with fire, and drag their coaches to the field…

Those are the ones who get noticed.

And more importantly —

Those are the ones who grow into leaders long after the last out.