MartyBall

I had a good friend message me an interesting question this morning:

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So, I figure if one is asking, others might be wondering as well.
Under the NCAA’s new model, that can absolutely be the play, assuming the athlete remains academically eligible and is admitted/enrolled appropriately in graduate school.

The important clarification is that what people are calling “5 in 5” is really a continuous five-year eligibility period. For athletes who start full-time college in fall 2027 or later, the NCAA has eliminated the old four-seasons-of-competition limit. An athlete can potentially compete throughout that five-year period.

So to take their example:

Year 1: Undergraduate + play
Year 2: Undergraduate + play
Year 3: Finish bachelor's + play
Year 4: Master's program + play
Year 5: Master's program + play

That structure can work. NCAA rules specifically allow an athlete who already has a bachelor's degree to continue participating while enrolled in a graduate/professional program, second bachelor's program, or certain other documented post-baccalaureate coursework, provided the athlete still has eligibility available.

And here's the interesting recruiting angle to take a second look at: dual enrollment could make this much more valuable. If a kid enters college with enough usable credits to finish a bachelor's in three years, they could potentially spend Years 4 and 5 pursuing a master's while continuing to play.

One caution: dual-enrollment credits don't themselves start the NCAA five-year clock just because they were earned in high school. The new rule generally starts the period at the earlier of initial full-time college enrollment or the applicable age trigger tied to the athlete's 19th birthday.

Also, “eligible to play” does not automatically mean “school pays for the master's.” The athlete's scholarship/financial-aid package still matters. That's something I'd specifically ask the coach:
“If I complete my undergraduate degree early and have athletic eligibility remaining, does your program continue athletic aid while I'm enrolled in a graduate program?”

That is a great question to ask because the potential value is substantial. Instead of evaluating an offer purely as “What percentage of my bachelor's are they paying for?”, families should potentially evaluate total educational value over five years, including graduate-school funding.

For example, a 2027 softball recruit who arrives with 30–45 dual-enrollment credits could intentionally target a path like 3-year bachelor's + 2-year master's + five years of softball. That's a very different ROI calculation than the traditional four-year scholarship discussion.

One other important detail: the new NCAA model is fully applicable to athletes initially enrolling full time in fall 2027 or later. Athletes entering in 2026-27 are in a transition group where the school can apply the previous rules or the new model, whichever produces the more favorable result.

It is critical to evaluate the true financial picture and academic fit, rather than just chasing an athletic offer. That could uncover some schools that look mediocre on scholarship percentage but are phenomenal deals if they're willing to fund two graduate years.

Parents of 2027s, 2028s, and 2029s... I think we need to have an honest conversation.

This summer, while traveling the country, I spent a lot of time talking with college coaches from every level. Different schools. Different conferences. Different budgets. Yet I kept hearing the same themes over and over.

One coach told me, "We may only take one... maybe two high school players from the 2028 class and fill the rest through the portal."

Another said, "Parents have no idea how much slower recruiting is about to become."

Another admitted that coaches are becoming much more hesitant to project 15- and 16-year-olds three or four years into the future. When I asked why, the answer was simple: "the risk is too high. If you can recruit a player who has already proven she can compete at the college level, why gamble on projection?"

That doesn't mean elite players are going to struggle with recruiting. They won't. The athletes that college coaches identify as elite will continue receiving offers, unofficial visits, official visits, and all the opportunities they've always had.

The important distinction is this: elite is defined by college coaches—not travel ball organizations, recruiting services, social media, or parents. There's a big difference.

One conversation really stuck with me. A coach said, "Everyone wants to be nationally ranked, but a lot of these teams have no business chasing national status. The game IQ isn't where it needs to be. Player development has slowed. Rosters are watered down because everyone is trying to create another national team instead of developing athletes." This coach had their team playing in WCWS this summer if you need validation.

That hit me because it explains what many of us are seeing.

Some organizations have become incredible marketing companies. Not all of them have remained great development companies. Development prepares an athlete for college. Marketing convinces families they're already there. Those aren't always the same thing.

There's another issue that I don't think enough families understand.

Several college coaches told me they'll report to campus this fall with rosters that are actually over the new roster limits. Why? Because those limits don't have to be met immediately. Schools have until later in the fall to become compliant, giving coaches time to evaluate who is actually ready to compete before making difficult roster decisions. Fall exhibition games act as a final tryout for players on the bubble.

Think about what that means.

Some freshmen who arrive physically unprepared, overwhelmed by the speed of the college game, or simply not ready to compete could find themselves entering the winter transfer portal after just one semester.

Coaches will intentionally over-recruit because of these reasons:
-Injury Insurance: Fall training is physically intense. Coaches carry extra players to cover unexpected injuries or surgeries.
-Performance Validation: Paper talent does not always translate to the field. Live fall scrimmages expose who can actually handle the level of play.
-Natural Attrition: Some players voluntarily leave the program early in the semester due to homesickness, academic stress, or realizing they are buried on the depth chart. Some girls become party girls and lose athletic/academic focus quickly.

I believe this winter's portal could be one of the busiest we've ever seen.

If you're an incoming freshman, the summer before college is no longer just about enjoying your last few months at home. It has become one of the most important training periods of your athletic career. You need to arrive ready to compete on Day One—not by Thanksgiving, not by spring practice.

Now layer all of this on top of the House settlement.

Schools that opt into revenue sharing can now distribute millions of dollars directly to athletes while operating under hard roster caps instead of traditional scholarship limits. Some Power 4 programs will fully fund all 25 softball roster spots. Many mid-major schools simply can't. Every athletic department is making financial decisions that didn't exist just a few years ago, and those decisions are changing how coaches recruit.

The recruiting world isn't ending, but it is changing.

Recruiting is going to move slower. There is a behind the scenes push by several big schools to move the September 1 date of Junior year back to SENIOR YEAR with the 2029 class. Who knows if that actually happens or not.

Personally, I wish the NCAA would simply do this:
--Give 2 roster spots over the 25 cap for DSA-5th Year Players
--Open communication window early to June 1 or June 15 of Junior Year
--No official on campus visits till September 1 of Junior Year
--No commitments until after September 1 of Junior Year

Coaches, players and families need time to talk and the best place to do this at a the tournaments themselves! I think this could help trim the portal numbers down on the backside.

Finally, coaches are going to value proven production more than projection. Physical maturity is becoming more valuable.

Development is becoming more valuable. And damnit, your kid better be able to hit and have a swing that projects at the next level in addition to having the right MENTAL hitting approach.

Finding the right fit is becoming more important than chasing the biggest logo.

The families who understand these changes now will be in a much better position than the families waiting for recruiting to "return to normal."

Because I don't believe it's going back to normal. I believe this is the new recruiting economy.

Send a message to learn more

This is a very long post so you can read or scroll on by but you risk missing key insights and education. This has to do with navigating the recruiting process when coaches are fired, retire or mutually part ways. I will teach you how to approach and manage these situations and why opportunity exists inside of perceived chaos/instability.

Major NCAA Softball Head Coach Openings — 2026 Carousel
Power / Nationally Relevant Division I Openings (As of May 11)

University of Illinois — Tyra Perry
--Significant Big Ten opening
--Former postseason coach
--Illinois expected to pursue a proven Power 4 recruiter

University of Minnesota — Piper Ritter
--One of the biggest openings nationally
--Facilities + Big Ten resources + history
--This job will attract sitting Power 4 coaches

University of Tulsa — Crissy Strimple
--Quietly one of the more intriguing jobs
--Longtime internal program leader not retained
--Tulsa still has recruiting appeal in Oklahoma/Texas pipelines

University of Alabama at Birmingham — Taylor Smartt
--Sneaky strong opening
--AAC transition and regional recruiting base matter
--UAB has infrastructure to win quickly

University of Utah State — Todd Judge
--Mountain West instability continues
--Portal retention and recruiting challenges likely factors

Mid-Major / Strong Regional Jobs

Towson University — Lisa Costello
--Massive retirement
--30+ years of continuity gone
--One of the more respected long-term builders in mid-major softball

Longwood University — Megan Brown
--Strong softball tradition for level/conference
--Attractive for ambitious assistants

Morehead State University — Megan Griffith
--Ohio Valley opening
--Could become a stepping-stone job

Bradley University — Sarah Willis
--MVC opening with recruiting access into Illinois/Midwest travel circuits

University of Maryland Eastern Shore — Aaron Robinson
--HBCU opening with unique recruiting opportunity

East Texas A&M University — Brittany Miller
--Texas recruiting geography alone makes this interesting
--Transition-era program with upside
--Major Retirement / Legacy Exit

Houston Christian University — Mary-Ellen Hall
--End of an era
--35-year coaching run
--One of the sport’s longest-serving coaches

University of Texas at Tyler — Mike Reed
--HUGE Division II retirement
--National championship pedigree
--One of the most respected coaches in all non-D1 softball

Division III
--Concordia College Moorhead — Annika Seedborg
--Well-regarded young coach
--Smaller level, but respected within DIII circles

What stands out to me in this coaching carousel is that we have more veteran exits than usual and its only May 11 (date of this post)

This cycle has seen retirements, non-renewals, “mutual partings” and burnout-related exits.

That says a lot about: NIL pressure, portal chaos, recruiting fatigue, roster management stress.

Midwest jobs are unusually active

You have: Illinois, Minnesota, Bradley, Towson, Morehead
and UT Tyler

That’s a LOT of movement in a traditionally stable region.

I expect another wave is probably coming AFTER regionals/supers. Historically, this is when assistants get hired away and Power 4 disappointments trigger changes. You also have WCWS exits sometimes accelerate retirements

I would not be surprised if another SEC job and 1–2 ACC jobs as well as several Mountain West/AAC jobs open before July. We saw delayed openings in June last year that put recruiting in an interesting spot (ex: Iowa).

So what impact does this have on your 2027 player, 2028 player or JUCO Transfer?

This is where smart players and families can create separation.

A coaching carousel is not chaos for recruits. It’s opportunity. For uncommitted 2027s, JUCO transfers, and even advanced 2028s, these openings create roster instability, recruiting gaps, scholarship reallocations, and urgency inside programs.

That changes everything.

When a head coach leaves, several things usually happen fast:

--Existing commits may decommit
--Players enter the portal
--Recruiting boards get wiped clean
--Assistant coaches leave
--Scholarship money shifts
--New coaches bring different recruiting priorities
--Programs suddenly need players NOW instead of “next year”

That creates openings for athletes who were previously “on the bubble.”

How 2027 Uncommitted Players Can Use This

1. Target programs BEFORE the new coach is hired

This is critical. Once a new coach arrives:

--they need to stabilize roster numbers quickly
--they need “their players”
--they often revisit entire recruiting classes

A well-crafted email now can land differently because:

--recruiting databases are being rebuilt
--coaches are short on time
--assistants are evaluating quickly

2. Sell upside, projection, and coachability

New staffs LOVE:

--athleticism
--growth trajectory
--multi-position flexibility
--speed
--hitters with projectable power
--pitchers with velocity upside & can throw strikes

So why does this matter? Simple, it's because they want “their development wins.” A new coach wants players they can say: “We developed her.” That matters more than perfect stats sometimes.

3. Re-open previously dead conversations

A “No” from 8 months ago may no longer matter.

Why? Because the previous staff recruited differently, roster holes changed, the portal losses changed needs and scholarships shifted. Families make a huge mistake assuming: “They already passed on me.” Guess what...that board may literally no longer exist!

How JUCO Transfers Can Capitalize

JUCOs may benefit the MOST from coaching turnover. JUCOs solve problems faster than freshmen.

Why?

New coaches need:

--older players
--innings immediately
--mature hitters
--roster stability
--leadership

JUCO Strategy

First, contact immediately once a named replacement is known. Do not wait for portal chaos to settle. A new staff may need (with high urgency):

--a catcher
--left-handed power bat
--an innings eater
--middle infielder
-speed on the bases

Next, you to emphasize readiness. JUCO messaging should sound different than HS messaging.

Less:

“I hope to develop.”

More:

“I can help you win immediately.”

Third, leverage the new eligibility environment. With the NCAA rules evolving and roster structures changing, coaches increasingly value: experience, maturity and immediate impact. This is especially at a mid-major D1.

What if your daughter is a 2028?

2028s need to understand something important: THIS is when relationship building starts.

A coaching change gives younger players a rare chance to get identified early, get into camps early, become known before the recruiting board fills up.

Therefore a short 2028 strategy should look like this:

1. Attend camps at transition schools. New staffs NEED camp attendance. They NEED evaluation opportunities. That means: more eyes on younger players, more flexibility and more openness!

2. Start building familiarity now. Even if offers are far away. You should follow staffs on Twitter/X, email after camps, send schedule updates and engage consistently.

Recruiting is often about familiarity + timing. The biggest recruiting advantage for 2028s (and really anyone) is the families who act EARLY. There are many documented instances where a lack of this knowledge caused most families to wait too long, assume coaches will “find them” or they simply don’t understand roster dynamics.

Meanwhile: a proactive player can become a solution to a new coach’s immediate problem.

That changes recruiting outcomes.

If you want to learn more about MartyBall, visit us at www.martyball.net or drop us an email at [email protected]

MartyBall - Player Dev MartyBall: Custom baseball and softball player development. Tactical plans, private coaching, recruiting assistance, and more. Unlock your potential today!

MartyBall is on location at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix today. Last played on this campus in 1994, so it was a trip to be back here. This is Bella Wolfe, a JUCO transfer that I’m working with. She’s returning to play after fighting through a case of turf toe and we’ve got several big schools looking at her. Absolutely has been one of the hardest working kids that I’ve had the pleasure to help with recruiting.

This morning during our hitting sessions she hit 24 home runs!!!

Bella is looking for a D1 home and will have 3 years of eligibility. Very quick OF with a ++ arm and 2.8 speed down the line. She is a true, multi-dimensional hitter!

One of my biggest joys in this recruiting circus has been finding great homes for great kids who just needed a louder advocate for them!

Entering the portal without a plan is like bringing a cheap paper plate to a buffet. The numbers don’t lie.

As someone who has spent 24 years coaching baseball and softball, helped 251 athletes find college homes, and lived the recruiting journey as a father of a college athlete and a college-bound athlete…

I’m on a mission to make sure no athlete gets overlooked and to help them turn their talent into real opportunities with a system that actually works.

Get Seen.
Get Recruited.
Get Offers.

I only work in small numbers. Right now I have 3 openings. If interested, drop me a message.

🚨 Big Recruiting Update 🚨

No more midnight madness.

The NCAA has officially moved the start of recruiting communications to 1 PM CT on the first allowable contact date.

That means no more 12:01 AM chaos… just a more controlled, fair starting point for athletes and coaches.

Guessing a lot of kids will call in sick on 9/1

The NCAA is meeting this week to potentially enact age limits. This has been in motion for several weeks and it does predate Trump‘s EO.

From Yahoo Sports on 4/8/26:

According to the concept, NCAA athletes would have five full years of eligibility from the time of their 19th birthday or their high school graduation, whichever is earliest. No waiver requests, redshirts or exceptions will be permitted, except for a small group of outliers (those on maternity leave, military service or religious missions).

Members of the NCAA Division I Cabinet are set to review the proposal at their meeting next week. While a timeline for approval remains unclear — it is likely weeks or months away — the legislation is considered an urgent matter with potential for implementation as soon as this coming academic year (fall 2026).

Any implementation is expected to be phased in as is the case with most new NCAA policy. For instance, leaders will take strides to avoid adversely impacting any current athlete’s long-term eligibility under existing rules. What’s unclear is if those players completing or having completed their final, fourth season of eligibility will regain a fifth season if they fall within the new policy’s five-year window.

We've received a few text messages on that "new Trump sports bill" so here's an authentic breakdown.

On April 3, 2026, President Trump signed the “Urgent National Action to Save College Sports” Executive Order. It’s not a new law yet, but it’s a strong directive to the NCAA, conferences, and schools — with the threat of losing federal funding if they don’t align.

Here’s the simplified breakdown Key Changes Being Pushed:

**Eligibility Window - Athletes would be limited to a clear 5-year participation window (no more than 5 seasons of competition).•

**Transfer Portal - Moves back toward more structure: Generally one transfer during the 5-year period with immediate eligibility. A second transfer would require sitting out a year. Graduate transfers who have earned their 4-year degree get one additional transfer.

**NIL & Collectives - Cracks down on “fraudulent NIL schemes” — payments (especially through booster collectives) that go well above fair market value for actual endorsements. The goal is real NIL deals, not disguised pay-for-play.

**Competitive Balance - Protects women’s programs and Olympic/non-revenue sports by encouraging revenue-sharing models that don’t drain resources from the rest of the athletic department.

All of this is simply a signal and a push for the NCAA and Congress to act quickly. Many changes are targeted to take effect around August 1, 2026, so the current recruiting and transfer cycles won’t be impacted immediately but the landscape is shifting.

What This Means for Athletes & Families:

The wild-west era of unlimited transfers and massive collectives may be cooling off. Programs could see more roster stability, which might mean: Coaches investing more in long-term development instead of constant portal shopping.

Recruiting becoming more about genuine fit, academics, and program culture rather than short-term NIL chasing.

I have spoken with 5 Division Schools in the past 24 hours but I expect legal challenges to ensue while final NCAA rules are hammered out.

My Advice to High School Athletes & Parents Right Now:

Focus on what you can control --->
**Your on-field development and film
**Strong academics (they matter more than ever)
**Building real relationships with coaches

Players and families need to ask smart questions during visits/recruiting calls, such as:

(1) “How is your program planning for the new eligibility and transfer rules?”
(2) “What does roster stability look like moving forward?”
(3) “How do you support NIL compliance while developing players?”

Talent, work ethic, character, and the right fit will always be the foundation — no matter how the rules evolve.

At MartyBall, we’re closely tracking these changes and helping baseball/softball families navigate the recruiting process with clear eyes and smart strategy. If this raises questions about how it could affect your player’s journey, reach out. We’re here to help you make informed decisions.

Drop your thoughts or questions below or message us directly at [email protected]