CRAIG DOTY IS THE HEAD COACH OF THE EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY HORNETS IN  THE MIAA IN NCAA DII IN EMPORIA, KANSAS. HE CAME TO EMPORIA STATE AFTER WINNING THE NAIA D1 MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THE GRACELAND UNIVERSITY JACKETS IN LAMONI, IOWA. IN SHARING ADVICE WITH ME, COACH DOTY WROTE, “COLLEGE COACHING IS AN INCREDIBLE PROFESSION. FOR YOUNG COACHES WANTING TO GET INTO COLLEGE COACHING, IT’S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO KNOW HOW THEY CAN DO IT. HEAD COLLEGE COACHES HIRE ASSISTANTS WHO: 1. THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH. 2. HAVE PROVEN RECRUITING EXPERIENCE. 3. ARE GREAT AT PLAYER DEVELOPMENT. 4. UNDERSTAND COLLEGE ATHLETICS AND HOW TO ENHANCE THE STUDENT ATHLETE EXPERIENCE. TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL, DON’T BE AFRAID TO WORK FOR FREE. I WORKED TWO YEARS OF MY CAREER AS A VOLUNTEER AT TWO DIFFERENT COLLEGE PROGRAMS. WITHOUT THESE YEARS, I WOULDN’T HAVE PROGRESSED AS A COLLEGE COACH. ALWAYS MAKE IT ABOUT THE STUDENT ATHLETES AND WORK LONG HOURS EARLY ON AS YOU BUILD YOUR RESUME.”