Growing the Program With Solid, Local Roots
When it comes to building, Hagen likes homegrown materials
Mike Brohard
The philosophy makes perfect sense.
As a head coach, you want talent. As the head coach of a program which needs to use its scholarship dollars wisely, you do the math. If you head a program in a state where the level of women’s soccer talent is high – as Colorado State leader Keeley Hagen does -- then you start by building relationships within the Centennial State’s borders and then branch out.
It’s not realistic to think she’ll build a roster on just Colorado kids, but the closer she can come, the better. For a range of reasons.
“We’ve spent a lot of time with that,” Hagen said on the doorstep of her third season guiding the Rams. “When we’re not recruiting out of state, we’re going to go to every local event they have. We’ll go to league games. You can’t be everywhere all the time, but it’s a high priority.
“When I got here, we were always looking to recruit the local kids. The trend is for the Colorado kids to leave the state, and then they find their way back. We’re going to recruit them initially, and we’re going to put a lot of energy initially into it because I think it’s important they know the school up the road is interested. If they choose somewhere else, we’ve vetted them and then when they come back, we know who they are, and we can pick them up if it’s a good fit for us and vice versa. It might be a thing where you might not get them for four years, but if you get them for three or two, great. That’s how recruiting is.”
The transfer portal draws the most headlines in football and basketball, but make no mistake, every sport is well represented in the landscape. In the past two seasons, five of the transfers Hagen has added to her program have Colorado roots.
It wasn’t necessarily by design, but the stars aligned for both parties involved. The main draw is what the state produces. Avery Vander Ven, who joins the program this year after playing at Texas – where she was recruited by Hagen – thinks it’s a no-brainer.
“One hundred percent. If you look at the US Women’s National team, you have Sophia Smith and Lindsey Horan,” she said. “Jaelin Howell has played up there, Mallory Pugh. There are a bunch of Colorado kids. The talent is definitely here.
“I think the issue is a lot of Colorado kids take it for granted. I was one of them. I left. I wanted out and wanted to experience a new state. Coming back, I missed here a lot. The talent here is awesome, the coaching in club and the way it’s set up, I was fortunate enough to develop the technical side of my game early. I think that’s seen in all clubs in Colorado. The talent here is immense.”
Hagen knows how recruiting works. She understands some kids in state just want something different, like Vander Ven did. Some of them want to play at schools in Power 5 conferences, so they immediately take Colorado State off their list.
It happens. But as time goes on, a lot of other things can transpire. That’s why she feels it’s so important for her and the staff to build relationships early and keep a watchful eye on those looking to return. The pitch isn’t always greener over the border in the long run.
Even if the ties are somewhat loose. Katy Coffin lists her hometown as Grand Junction, but she lived in the Denver area her final season. But her first choice, Kansas State, was never going to feel like home. Even with the changes in her address, Colorado will always have a draw.
“For me, it’s always been a big deal. It’s always nice to come back to Colorado,” she said. “Colorado is a pretty amazing place.”
You’re always representing our crest or our logo, but when you put that on there, it’s another great thing to represent and it’s pretty awesome.Katy Coffin
Hagen arrived late on the scene, inheriting a recruiting class from the previous regime. There has been major roster overhaul since, some via the portal, others to graduation. Izzy Wildermuth (Littleton) was part of that class. In the next two, Hagen added a local freshman each season – Mia Massey (Parker) last year, Taite DeLange (Thornton) this year.
She’d like to see more of the same, even in bigger numbers, as the years proceed. They all believe they can make the Rams a draw for in-state talent, and the most direct route is successful seasons. With eight locals on roster, they feel the time is now.
The season begins on the road at Denver on Thursday (7 p.m.), with the first home match set for Sunday against Louisiana Tech (1 p.m.)
“There’s a big opportunity this season, and I think we’re there,” Vander Ven said. “It’s a new group, for sure, but we have so much momentum coming in from the spring. It’s a really good group of girls. Not only do we have a bunch of talent, but it’s also a group that really wants it and works on top of that.”
After making the Mountain West tournament Hagen’s first season (the second time in program history), the Rams just missed out in 2022. There are key pieces returning, and the newcomers have helped create a more competitively dynamic roster.
Finding the goal will go a long way toward making gains, and the Colorado additions are a net gain for the coach. Get better. Put the program as part of the initial list for local recruits. That simple, and Coffin is a fan of the formula.
“For sure. I think Keeley setting high standards, I would rank us up there with programs perceived as being higher,” she said. “I think we’re at that point. It’s continuing to consistently grow. I think that we can compete with those teams, so why not stay home and get in-state tuition.”
That’s where for the coach it makes perfect cents. When she is in charge of diving the 14 scholarships allowed, 50 percent goes a lot further for the in-state student-athlete as opposed to one out of state.
The math is easy, and it’s part of the pitch in a state where there is plenty of talent.
“Whenever you can stay in state to recruit, absolutely,” Hagen said. “Tuition is cheaper for in-state residents, so you’d like to fill your kids with in-state kids and get some others from out of the region. Colorado was definitely a big draw.
“It’s funny. When we recruit an in-state kid we ask do you plan on living in Colorado when you’re done? Yes. Getting a degree from CSU, people are going to see that from a young lady and think that’s great. That’s part of the draw. Your family is an hour and a half away, so they can come see you. When you bring those recruits in, those in-state kids are, ‘hey, this is my hometown.’ Look at the mountains. Everybody loves the aesthetics.”
The added benefit for the program a bit of state pride. It’s a draw for those who show up initially and walk through the front door and those who find their way through the back.
The name on the front means something. Honestly, so does the kit.
“I love it. It’s my favorite uniform,” Coffin said. “It’s the most comfortable. You’re always representing our crest or our logo, but when you put that on there, it’s another great thing to represent and it’s pretty awesome.”
Vander Ven, for one, said it’s easy to overlook the good stuff at first. Being from Colorado is a point of pride, and while she suited up for the Longhorns, she said her teammates decided her personality was Colorado because she bragged about it so much.
They also brag about the talent. They could have been club teammates, even rivals, and there is a respect factor. For her, that was a big reason why she wanted to make her way back. It wasn’t just Hagen with whom she had a relationship.
“I played with Ashley Bahr; Ash and I grew up childhood best friends, 10-11-12-years old,” she said. “Mia was younger and played for the same club, so I knew her. Kate Dunne just transferred here, and she was also on the younger team with Mia. There are a lot of club connections.
“For me, familiarity brings comfortability. When I transitioned in, it felt very natural having a familiar face and knowing some teammates. It’s better than I don’t know anyone. It’s good to have somebody you had a relationship with.”
Coffin was an early native to transfer back. When more like her followed suit, she was welcoming people she already knew. It felt good. She had played with or against the majority of them. Now they’re combining their talents and practice feels like a safe place to cut it loose.
“I think this season is super exciting. At the end of practice every day, all of us, we have a smile on our face,” she said. “It’s fun because we’re constantly competing.”
For a program. For their state. Now that they collectively think about it, it all adds up.