Posted by sordie on 2/1/2008 2:55:00 PM (view original):
Quote: Originally Posted By oldresorter on 1/10/2008
ANSWER: one thing about keeping teams great, is to look 2-3 years ahead when recruiting, to do a depth chart that far out.
This is great advice, and to take it one step further: try to ensure that each starting position and most of the backup minutes will be filled by upperclassmen each season -- even projecting several seasons into the future.
It's common for lower division coaches to do opportunistic recruiting, just grabbing the best players in the area. That often results in a talent glut at one position and team's getting stuck depending on freshmen at other positions.
Try to recruit for need.
I have implemented this idea and it has worked great for me. I have a spreadsheet on my computer so I can track my team over the next 4-5 seasons, see when players are graduating and can plan ahead to ensure that I never get caught short at a particular position. It has changed how I recruit and I think it has enabled to me to have better overall teams.