Mary Johnston is the women’s volleyball coach at Franklin College.
She is in her sixth season coaching the Grizzlies. She is also the school’s assistant director of athletics.
Q: Without the benefit of awarding athletics scholarships, what are the biggest challenges in attracting athletes?
A: At the end of the day, I want our student-athletes to succeed as students.
That said, students need to select a school that fits within their academic, professional, social and financial goals. My job is to find talented students and athletes that feel like Franklin is that right “fit.”
Q: What specifically do you tell athletes to sell them on Franklin?
A: I first and foremost talk with students about our academic programs and our alumni success.
Most students who visit campus meet with a professor of their academic interest. Academically, we have to be a fit for students. Our program also has specific athletic and team goals that I think attract students. We try to focus on team mentality and everyone having a role in that success.
The young women in our program have done a fantastic job of creating a family within our team.
Q: When do you typically start recruiting?
A: Our staff is always recruiting. It is an ongoing process of reaching out to students and getting them to visit our campus to learn more about Franklin.
Q: Do you enjoy the recruiting process? If so, what do you enjoy about it?
I enjoy getting to know students and their families as they work through the recruiting process.
I tell students my job is to give them all the information they need about Franklin. It’s their job to find the right fit for them. It can be disappointing when a top recruit chooses another school, but it also is exciting when a student decides to attend Franklin.
