Hans Hanson, Founder
I am a parent of two student athletes. Both graduated from terrific colleges. One played major college sports. Like you, I have seen my fair share of prep sports—games, practices, showcases and camps. Sure, high school and club teams provide tense moments and great excitement, but the thrill of the college game exceeds it all by leaps and bounds.
I know first hand how sports make a difference in the lives of our children. Sports can help them develop a sense of accomplishment and an understanding that hard work pays off.
About 10 years ago, I watched my own children, and many others, ponder the next step: “Will all of this come to an end in high school or can it be extended into college?” I quickly understood the game changed after high school — and the stakes went up. Way up.
One path leads to success on the playing field and in the classroom. The other winds its way through disappointment and frustration.
Those high stakes are the reason I created The College Sports Track. And, my promise to you is simple. We will help you turn the odds in your favor.
Guiding a student athlete to the right college is hard work. But, it’s worth it. In fact, 90 percent of successful, satisfied, student athletes graduate on time. Our motivation is for your son or daughter to be in the 90th percentile. It’s that simple.
That is why I created The College Sports Track. Now, let us help your family get the inside track towards finding college sports success.
Tim Babrick, South Florida Regional Director
College recruiting is a deeply personal experience, one filled with hopes and dreams, as well as challenges. Success often means striking a balance, understanding the reality of the circumstances—both your own and that of the team to which you aspire.
I’ve walked the path, earning a college scholarship and enjoying a solid playing career. But, I also experienced the downsides. As a baseball pitcher with scholarship options coming out of high school, I chose to spend a year at a junior college to gain the experience that would allow me to secure the best possible long-term scholarship.
I learned that coaches often make promises they can’t, or won’t, keep. While I earned real pitching opportunities, I never touched a bat in junior college. Rather than gain the experience I desired, I faced the challenge of making the most of a situation I never anticipated when I left high school.
Did I make a mistake? Possibly. But I learned. I worked hard and earned scholarships and a spot on the Northwood University, Florida, baseball team—we made the final four of our conference tournament. Most importantly, I gained an education, including a focus on my school’s Entertainment Sport and Promotion Management Program.
When I work with your family, I will bring a levelheaded understanding of the ins-and-outs of college recruiting, and I will help your family make the best decisions for your unique goals and dreams.
Vince Crantz, Northeast Regional Director
I bring the perspective of a former college coach—Division III baseball—to College Sports Track. As a coach, I learned to understand the admissions process for colleges of all levels, allowing me to recruit athletes and assist them with both their studies and the social aspects of college life.
My background, both professional and personal, extends beyond my days as a coach.
The college experience of my daughter, now a Spanish teacher, taught me the stakes in making the best college choice, both athletically and academically. With the cost of today’s higher education, what family can afford to make anything but the correct long-term decision?
My connection to high school sports continued after my coaching days. For the past 10 years, I have represented a sporting goods company, primarily dealing with high school athletic directors, coaches and athletes. I have focused on lacrosse and field hockey, and built relationships with athletic directors throughout my region. These men and women are some of the most overworked of all school administrators, responsible for everything from scheduling and purchasing to the coordination of coaches and transportation for teams traveling to competitions.
My experience as a coach, parent and liaison with high school athletic directors gives me a toehold in the worlds of both high school and college sports. Most importantly, I understand what it’s like to be a parent helping a student negotiate the path from high school to college.
I look forward to going to work for your family. The journey is worth the effort. I’ve seen the results firsthand. So will you.
Walter Williams, Michigan and Ohio Regional Director
As an aspiring high school athlete, with dreams of playing college sports, my family and my own determination were my best resources. The hard work paid off. I played wide-out and returned kicks for The University of Northern Iowa’s football team. In fact, we won the conference championship.
The most important lesson I learned was that nobody would give me anything. If I wanted to go after my dream, I had to work hard in the classroom and on the field. It’s a work ethic I applied before, during and after college.
I am a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the only child of my parents, Walter and Dorothy. I’ve committed myself to helping youth understand the process of college recruiting, particularly how to stand out from the crowd to become the kind of recruit college coaches desire.
The academic opportunities that came with college sports helped shape my life in so many ways, particularly understanding cultural diversity. I know the lessons I learned can help others. They did for me, and they did for my son, a recent high school graduate who landed a football roster position at a quality small college.
I have lived the life many aspiring athletes seek, and I continue to use these lessons daily. Together we will apply these real-life strategies and tools to help your child achieve their goal—the right college fit.
Pat Wong, Midwest Regional Director
Every workday for eight years, I have helped student athletes make the most of their physical and mental abilities. I train middle school, high school and college athletes with my own sports performance business and fitness bootcamps.
But my job is more than attention to the physical. I love helping student athletes and their families navigate the college recruiting process, watching them grow and develop the understanding that success demands a proactive approach. Athletes cannot sit back and wait for college coaches to discover them.
I also understand that sports are personal, bringing moments of triumph and challenge that create lifetime memories. I played three sports in high school, continuing my love of sports while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. I played on Marine basketball and softball teams. I played professional fast pitch softball and I coached internationally in Japan.
My wife, Leslie Ann Wong, and I passed the love of competition along to our two sons: Andrew, who served in the Iraq war, and Tony, who played baseball for the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, and played in the DIII College World Series.
I apply those years of experience to college recruiting. I understand the hard work and attitude needed to succeed in the classroom, on the field, at home and in the community.
As I work with your student, I will paint a picture of what it takes to succeed as a collegiate athlete. Athletic talent and grades will open doors, but character seals the deal.