Northwood’s soccer program has witnessed the arrival of some big, bright stars since the dawn of the program. Names like Said El-Eyssami ‘26, Mitch Baker ‘24, and Sachiel Ming ‘24 come to mind. How has Coach Moodey been able to consistently recruit top-end talent on and off the pitch? What’s their recruitment system like?
Coach Jon Moodey at a rainy game at home in the fall of 2023. Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge.
Jon Moodey is Black Rock’s highly-regarded coach. “We look for candidates with excellent soccer/football ability and the desire to learn and grow,” Moodey explained. “What is also very important is the academic interest of the candidate,” he added. “We want to know that they’re very serious about their academics. This does not mean they are perfect students, but they must be intent on making the most of their opportunity.”
Character counts, Moodey said. “When it comes to recruiting, we look for character. We’re looking for good people who understand the notion of community and want to be leaders, on and off the field,” he explained.
Narrowing down the list of prospects can be difficult. Coach Moodey explained a “glowing” application and a reassuring interview could help the coaches close in on the candidate. “I tend to do a Zoom with each family or invite them to campus, so I get to know them better as people. This is to make sure that not only are we excited about the candidate but also that they are excited about us. If all these things line up, we typically proceed to offer that individual a place in our academy.”
“Tony Mohamed and I do the recruiting,” said Moodey. “We work together for Black Rock. This year, we’ve been to South America, including Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay, and Brazil. In addition, I’ve been to Bermuda. Profé Coss has been to Puerto Rico. Tony has also been down to Trinidad and Antigua. In the next month, he’s heading to Germany, Italy and England. Also, we do look throughout North America for good players.”
Moodey also learns about prospective student-athletes from his current players. “We love referrals from former and current players. We believe the players have a good network of friends who might be interested in this pathway. You guys [the players] probably know your former teammates from home who might be a good fit for what we offer. Those sorts of referrals are really something we value.”
Prospective student-athletes interested in soccer can inquire on Northwood’s website or reach out to Coach Moodey directly.