UM coach explains program to fans Versyp provides in-depth look

BANGOR – How does UMaine women’s basketball coach Sharon Versyp go about recruiting student-athletes to play for the Black Bears?

The answers to those and many other questions were provided Tuesday night during the first session of “Timeout with Coach Versyp.”

Versyp and a group of 35 UMaine fans turned out at the Holiday Inn-Main Street to have dinner and talk Black Bear women’s basketball.

The program, which will continue with sessions on Dec. 9, Jan. 13 and Feb. 12, is designed to provide the public with the opportunity to learn about the program by interacting with Versyp and members of her coaching staff and team.

Tuesday’s subject was recruiting. Versyp and assistant coach Jody Benner teamed up to address the complicated subject, from making initial phone contacts in June to traveling to tournaments and camps in July to watch potential recruits.

“It’s really tough. You don’t sleep because of recruiting,” said Versyp, whose relaxed demeanor and sense of humor kept the crowd’s interest for nearly 90 minutes.

They received an in-depth look at UMaine’s recruiting philosophy, which concentrates on women who are going to be successful on the court, in the classroom and in life.

The Bears utilize a variety of recruiting tools, including phone calls, e-mail, letters, campus visits and home visits. Everything is regulated by the NCAA, which lists all its rules in a large paperback manual.

“This is our bible, you want to read it?” joked Versyp, who explained student-athletes can make a verbal commitment to a college athletic program any time during their four years of high school. However, coaches can’t talk to recruits until June 21 between their junior and senior years.

UMaine has done well in its recent recruiting, which means Versyp and her staff are looking well down the road.

“I’m already looking at 15- and 14-year-olds,” Versyp said, explaining that she can’t afford to wait until players are juniors in high school to begin evaluating them. “We’re looking at potential.”

Versyp said she prefers to dig for “diamonds in the rough” and described the world of college recruiting as “cutthroat.”

Benner broke down the intricacies and importance of the visits the UMaine staff makes to prospects’ homes. Those meetings are crucial for both parties.

“We’re interviewing them, but they’re really interviewing us,” Benner said. “We pay attention to how they interact with their families.”

Versyp pointed out that a recruit who is disrespectful to her family is likely to engage in similar behavior with her.

One key recruiting tool is UMaine’s outstanding attendance at games. The in-home visit includes showing a video that has scenic views of Bar Harbor, Bangor and the Orono campus, and shows highlights from games at Alfond Arena, with many facts about the program and its players.

Benner also discussed some rules issues surrounding boosters or, as the NCAA calls them, “representatives of athletics interests,” of which there were several in Tuesday’s audience.