Collegiate recruitment is a huge part of why we do what we do. Getting young athletes to the next level of their career is our goal and a major step for many athletes is reaching the collegiate level. With a number of collegiate experts at OPSM, we ensure that up and coming prospects are put in the right hands to kickstart their careers.
With a number of collegiate advisors aiding our athletes in the recruitment process, we wanted to highlight a few of them, starting with Andron Kagramanyan. To better get to know our collegiate experts and gain a deeper understanding of what a collegiate advisor does with OPSM, we interviewed them to get multiple different perspectives of the job, starting with Andron.
What inspired you to become a collegiate advisor?
“As I got towards the end of my playing career, I shifted towards individual soccer training with the goal of technically developing soccer players. I eventually realized that I want to be more than just a trainer and knew that I can impact soccer players in other ways. With my background in collegiate soccer and connection to OPSM, I felt that my values and passion aligned with the company and a role in collegiate advising can allow me to help athletes reach the next step in their journey. I was fortunate to have coaches and mentors who helped get to the next level, but the reality is that many find themselves limited with opportunity because they don’t have somebody to support them and show the path. As a collegiate advisor, I am able to guide and support athletes in their journeys.”
All of our collegiate advisors come from different backgrounds, both in life and their soccer careers. Because of these differing backgrounds, their answers vary from question to question, especially this first one. There are many reasons as to why one would want to shift into a collegiate advisor role, and for Andron, that reason was the potential impact he could have on young soccer players. With the ability to support young athletes and guide them in the right direction in their careers, Andron felt as though joining OPSM as a collegiate advisor was the ideal shift in his career following his playing career.
What is your history in collegiate sports and/or at the professional level?
“I spent my undergraduate years playing NCAA Division 1 at Fordham University in New York City. I then transferred to the University of Portland, another NCAA Division 1 to pursue a Master’s Degree. After 4.5 great years of Collegiate Soccer, I returned to Vaughan Soccer Club for a year in League 1 Ontario. After a successful year with the club, I went to play overseas in New Zealand.”
As a former D1 collegiate athlete himself, Andron knows the recruitment process extremely well. He’s been through the process himself as he made his way to Fordham University, and again as he transferred to the University of Portland. There are many different factors that go into the recruitment process, as Andron mentions, he transferred in order to pursue a Master’s Degree. Athletics and academics go hand in hand when taking the collegiate path, as we see first hand with Andron himself. With so many options and paths to take, our collegiate advisors are there every step of the way to ensure our athletes are taken care of, both in their athletic careers, and academically.
What was your recruiting journey as a player like?
“My recruiting journey as a player was quite slow up until the last couple months of Grade 12. I spent my formative years at Toronto FC Academy. During my time there, Collegiate Soccer wasn’t on my mind and to be honest, I wasn’t familiar with the idea of Collegiate Soccer. When I joined Vaughan Soccer Club in Grade 12, that’s when I learned more about the collegiate pathway and realized that NCAA Division 1 is a realistic opportunity. I had gone on official visits to multiple schools and got to experience the college athlete lifestyle. Although I had interest from many schools, an unwritten SAT test held me back and prolonged my recruitment process. I finally committed to Fordham University by May and the rest is history. Fortunately, I had the right coaches and resources at Vaughan to get the exposure and eventually make that next step.”
When it comes to collegiate recruitment, everybody’s path is different. For some, the process can be smooth and accelerated, but for others, like Andron, doors might not open right away, patience is a key aspect for those going through the process. The process can be long, and there may be some things holding you back from certain schools, but having the right people around you, such as OPSM’s advisors, can smooth out the process and ensure that you are happy with your final decision and start your career off on the right foot.
What is your process when trying to find a school that fits an athlete?
“The process depends on various factors and differs for each athlete. Some of these factors include the level of the athlete, academic and athletic aspirations, location of school, financial situations and more. The goal is to find each athlete the right home where they can be their best version both on the field and in the classroom. There must be a balance between athletics and academics, because it is vital for an athlete to be in an environment where they are challenged and can grow athletically, but are also pursuing an academic program of interest, in which they see themselves doing after their athletic career is over.”
A common theme between our advisors in their answers to this question is finding the proper balance between athletics and academics for each one of our athletes. Andron’s process puts a lot of emphasis on academics. As a student athlete, you’re going the collegiate route for more than just soccer, academics are equally important. Finding a school that satisfies both the academic and athletic wants and needs of our athletes is extremely important. Putting a focus on academics as well as athletics may narrow down the options, but it ensures that your final decision is the right one, for both aspects of your career, and guarantees the environment you are in is right for you as a student athlete.
What does a day in the life of a collegiate advisor look like?
“My days are very simple. It starts with an early morning followed by a cup of coffee and a light breakfast. I spend the first couple hours of the day on a soccer field conducting individual training sessions. I then spend the next half of the day communicating with current and potential clients in regards to their collegiate aspirations and next steps in their recruitment journey. I connect with many collegiate coaches from Canada and the U.S on a daily basis and build and manage relationships with college programs. In addition, I promote the athletes I work with to coaches and try to find the best fit for athletes”
Our collegiate advisors all have different routines and processes, Andron doubles as a trainer, keeping himself on the field following his playing career and handing his expertise off to the next generation of soccer players. A lot of what goes into the collegiate recruitment process is simply getting to know the clients, multiple phone calls a day with multiple clients ensures that Andron understands every athlete’s career aspirations and gives him a better understanding of what exactly they’re looking for in a school. Building and managing relationships with collegiate managers and coaches across North America enhances their interest in our athletes, and that’s exactly what our advisors are meant for. Aside from relationship building, Andron promotes each and every athlete that he works with to high-level coaches to get the athlete’s name out there and accrue interest.
What is one moment of your career that you are proud of?
“One moment that definitely sticks out is my first international camp in Costa Rica with the Canadian Youth National Team. The opportunity to represent Canada and play alongside the best players my age was a surreal moment and it definitely had an impact on me. It was an early experience in my career and shaped my mentality regarding work ethic and sacrifice.”
As a high-level player, Andron had a handful of notable moments. However, representing Canada has been his most memorable. Having this experience as a player will only increase his motivation as an advisor. Knowing the feeling he had as he represented his country will help him in aiding young athletes who are chasing that feeling. Putting his clients in the best possible situation to get the most out of their careers is the feeling he chases now.
