From Player to Program Builder: Gina Oaks Garcia’s Journey Through Every Level of College Softball

In this episode of The Significant Coaching Podcast, Matt Rogers welcomes Gina Oaks Garcia, Head Softball Coach at NCAA Division I Cal State Fullerton. A two-time All-American and former professional athlete, Gina has coached at every level of college softball—NAIA, Division III, Division II, and now D1—bringing a unique and powerful perspective on leadership, team culture, and athlete development. Being back home has suited her as she was named The Big West Conference Coach of the Year in just Year One of her return to lead her alma mater!

Gina shares how her experiences shaped her approach to coaching, what it means to return home to Fullerton, and why D1 programs are increasingly looking to hire coaches from lower divisions. If you're a softball coach, player, or parent, this is a must-listen conversation full of insight and inspiration.

🎯 And if you're here for recruiting help—don’t miss two game-changing tools available at coachmattrogers.com/books:

• Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes – a practical guide to help student-athletes take ownership of their recruiting journey.
• The Softball Recruit’s Journal – the sport-specific tracker, planner, and weekly reflection tool every serious softball recruit needs.

You can also subscribe to the This Week in Significant Coaching newsletter, take the Significant Recruiting Launchpad virtual course, or schedule a 1-on-1 strategy session with Matt directly on the site.

📲 Like, subscribe, and share—this episode was made for the softball community.

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Significant Recruiting with Jeff Gard – Earning the Offer

In this episode of Significant Recruiting, I sit down with Jeff Gard, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, to talk about what truly matters in the recruiting process.

Coach Gard pulls back the curtain on how D3 coaches evaluate recruits — and it’s not just about stats. We talk about:

• How effort, energy, and communication shape a recruit’s chances
• What separates a good high school player from a great college teammate
• And why fit, development, and long-term growth should guide your decision-making

Whether you’re just getting started or deep in the process, Coach Gard offers practical advice that every recruit and family needs to hear.

🎯 Listen now and get clear on what it takes to be recruited — and to thrive when you get there.

🎧 Find the episode and more resources at coachmattrogers.com — including Significant Recruiting, The Recruit’s Journal, and the Significant Recruiting Launchpad online course.

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Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

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Significant Coaching with Jeff Gard – UW-Platteville Head Men’s Basketball Coach

This week’s episode is a courtside seat to the coaching journey of Jeff Gard, the longtime Head Men’s Basketball Coach at UW-Platteville. We talk hoops, leadership, and the incredible influence of the legendary Coach Jerry Petitgoue, who helped shape Jeff's values both on and off the court.

Coach Gard opens up about:

• Competing in the always-loaded WIAC conference
• Recruiting without an offer???
• How he builds a program that develops great teammates and even better young men

It’s a real, refreshing look at coaching with intention — and just the right mix of basketball talk and bigger-picture wisdom.

🎧 Stick around — Part 2 drops next week with Coach Gard’s best advice on college recruiting.

📚 Check out resources at coachmattrogers.com:
Significant Recruiting, The Recruit’s Journal, the blog, and the Significant Recruiting Launchpad online course.

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Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

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🎙️ This Week on the Significant Recruiting Podcast

What do college presidents really think about athletic recruiting?

In this short but powerful episode, Matt sits down with Dr. James Troha, President of Juniata College and Chair of the NCAA Division III Presidents Council, to discuss how colleges are rethinking the recruitment process—and why families, coaches, and administrators must lead with empathy, honesty, and accountability.

Matt also opens the episode with a deep dive into what true commitment looks like from student-athletes and parents in the recruiting journey, plus practical advice for coaches on how to handle communication with every recruit who reaches out.

🎯 Whether you're trying to understand your recruiting reality or build better habits in your outreach, this episode delivers high-impact insight in just a few minutes.

📍Learn more, grab the books, or schedule your free strategy session at coachmattrogers.com.

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Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

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Did you like what you heard and want more?
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Leading Through the Gray: A Candid Conversation with Dr. James Troha

In this powerful and wide-ranging episode, Dr. James Troha—President of Juniata College and Chair of the NCAA Division III Presidents Council—joins the show for a candid conversation about the state of higher education, college athletics, and student well-being. With honesty, humor, and deep empathy, Dr. Troha and Coach Rogers discuss the urgent challenges facing today’s campuses, including mental health, the national pushback on DEI, and the need to stop coddling students in favor of building real resilience.

They explore why failure is essential to growth, how accountability must be taught—not avoided—and why none of these issues are black and white. This episode will make you think, feel, and reflect on how we care for and lead the next generation.

If you’re a coach, educator, parent, or leader—you need to hear this one.

Stay tuned for Part 2 on Monday, where Dr. Troha dives into the realities of recruiting in Division III and what families need to understand when exploring the D3 path.

For more tools, books, blogs, and recruiting & coaching support, visit CoachMattRogers.com.

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

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Did you like what you heard and want more?
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🎧 Significant Recruiting Podcast | Featuring Coach Chris Bunch, Webster University

In this episode of Significant Recruiting, Matt Rogers sits down with Coach Chris Bunch, longtime Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Webster University, to break down what really matters in the recruiting process.

Coach Bunch shares:

• What catches his attention when evaluating a recruit
• Why character, communication, and toughness go further than talent alone
• Common mistakes athletes and families make when contacting D3 programs
• What makes Division III basketball unique—and often misunderstood

Whether you're a student-athlete, parent, or coach, this episode is packed with insights from one of the most trusted and experienced voices in small college basketball.

📚 Looking for tools to guide your journey?
Visit CoachMattRogers.com to grab the book Significant Recruiting, explore The Softball Recruit’s Journal, sign up for the Significant Recruiting Launchpad course , or schedule a free recruiting strategy session with Coach Matt today.

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

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Did you like what you heard and want more?
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Brotherhood, Basketball & Building Men – A Coaching Conversation with Chris Bunch

Description:
In this episode of Significant Coaching, I sit down with one of my great friends in the world of college sports—Coach Chris Bunch, Head Men's Basketball Coach at Webster University. Chris and I started our college coaching journeys nearly 25 years ago in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, where our teams had epic battles and an instant respect was formed.

This conversation is personal. It’s real. And it’s packed with wisdom.

We talk about the evolution of coaching, the pressure and privilege of leading young men, and the legacy we hope to leave behind. Chris is one of the most loyal, generous, and thoughtful leaders I know—on and off the court. He also wrote the Coach’s Perspective for Chapter 8 of my book Significant Recruiting, and I’m incredibly thankful for his voice in this space.

Whether you're a coach, parent, or athlete, this episode will remind you why relationships matter more than records—and why coaching with heart still wins.

🎧 Subscribe and listen now.
🔗 Learn more or grab your copy of Significant Recruiting at CoachMattRogers.com

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Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

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Did you like what you heard and want more?
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What College Coaches Are Really Looking For – A Recruiting Talk with Paul Svagdis of Westmont College

In this week’s Significant Recruiting episode, Matt Rogers is joined by Westmont College Head Baseball Coach Paul Svagdis, a veteran leader with over 850 career wins and nearly 30 years of experience across NCAA Division III, NAIA, and now Division II.

Coach Svagdis breaks down exactly what he looks for in a recruit—from mindset and resilience to how a player responds to adversity. He shares why Stephen Vogt, now the manager of the Cleveland Guardians, stands as a prime example of the kind of athlete he wants in his program.

You’ll also hear advice on how to stand out in the recruiting process, how coaches evaluate character, and the importance of humility, consistency, and leadership potential.

🎯 Whether you're a student-athlete, parent, or coach, this episode is packed with practical insight to help guide your recruiting journey.

📚 Ready to take control of your college recruitment?

Visit CoachMattRogers.com to get your copy of Significant Recruiting: The Playbook for Prospective College Athletes and the new Recruit’s Journal—your week-by-week guide to staying organized, confident, and college-ready.

Send us a text

Support the show

Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers

Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, and all your favorite podcast platforms.

Did you like what you heard and want more?
New Podcasts every week. Remember to subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.