How to Write a Strong Subject Line When Emailing College Coaches

Spending a little extra time on your subject line can go a long way in your recruiting. Focus on the program to find the best way to market yourself to the college coach.

In today’s digital recruiting world, the first impression you’re going to make on a college coach is usually your subject line. It’s true — those 60 characters can be the difference between your email being read or getting deleted.

Here are a few ways you can make your subject line stand out in a college coach’s inbox and some examples to get you started.

DON’T BE GENERIC

Avoid anything stereotypical and broad. Coaches aren’t interested in a subject line that says, “I want to be a Golden Eagle.” They want details — a snapshot of who you are as a student-athlete. Simply stating “High school football player” in your subject line doesn’t really give them the information they need.    

RESEARCH FIRST

There are a few factors that would cause a college coach to open your email. It might be your position, grad year, location, key stats, size or academic information. It’s up to you to figure out what would be most appealing to that coach.

So, you need to do a little digging and figure out what drives coaches' recruiting efforts. Do they only recruit in one region? You may want to call out your location. Are they leading a DI program focused on size? Definitely put in your key stats.

Here’s an example for baseball players: 

• 2018 Grad – 6’2″ 190# RHP/1B from Texas – 88 Top FB – 3.8 GPA

The best place to get these answers is their roster.

Read more: What You Can Learn From A College Team’s Roster

TAILOR THE SUBJECT LINE

Every program, every coach is different and each college is unique — your subject line should be, too. For example, DI coaches want to know your size and speed. If you participate in an elite club team, put that in there. If you’ve received a high honor like All-State, include that as well.

Here’s an example for football players: 

• John Doe C/O 2018 LB 6’3 220lb 3-D1 Offers All-State Selection

Maybe you’re interested in a college that’s extremely competitive academically. Tell the coach right off the bat that you can get accepted and put your ACT or SAT score and GPA in the subject line.

Here’s an example for football players: 

• John Doe C/O 2017 3.98 GPA 31 ACT LB All-League Selection.

Also, keep in mind that coaches at DIII programs have a more difficult time finding student-athletes who understand how the financial aid works for DIII athletes. If you show them that you have a specific interest in their division, you will surely stand out among your peers.

Here’s an example for football players: 

• John Doe C/O 2018 4.56 40yd dash w/D3 Interest.

Read more: The difference in the College Division Levels

USE A PROFESSIONAL EMAIL

If your email is your first and last name, such as Jane.Doe@gmail.com, then you don’t necessarily need to include your name in your subject line. Plus, this frees up some character space for other key facts. And as an added bonus, a professional email shows the coach you’re mature and taking your recruiting seriously.

INCLUDE VIDEO

Most college coaches discover student athletes by watching their highlight films first. Then, if they’re interested in learning more about the recruit, they will find a way to see them play in person. So it’s crucial to include video in your email and then call it out in your subject line.

Here’s an example for soccer players: 

• 2018 Dynamic Goal Scorer- Video Included

LIST URGENCY, IF NEEDED

If your email is time sensitive, and you need the coach to open it before a certain day, you can call that out in the subject line. This would be the case if you planned on touring the campus, or are attending a sporting event where college coaches are evaluating potential recruits.

Here’s a couple of examples for volleyball players:

• 2019 Outside (MN) – Minnesota Select 17-1 *Visiting campus 12/12

• 2020 Libero (GA) – A5 *Northern Lights Qualifier 12/9-10

TELL THEM YOU’RE FOLLOWING UP

More likely than not, you will email coaches multiple times before they open your email. So you should tell them if this is a follow up to a previous contact. Just a quick note at the front of the subject line is all you need.

Here’s an example for softball players: 

• Following Up On My Voicemail – 2018 MIF – Video

Spending a little extra time on your subject line can go a long way in your recruiting. Focus on the program to find the best way to market yourself to the college coach.

Read more: How to email college coaches