Looking for ways to beat the NCAA Transfer Portal?
6 Steps to Future-Proof Your Program
With the NCAA transfer portal movement at an all-time high and the growing influence of NIL, athlete retention is more challenging than ever. While some coaches view this as a recruitment threat, others see it as a cultural challenge that requires deeper reflection with new strategies to benefit their program.
Each transfer represents more than a lost starter, it’s a hit to team chemistry, recruitment ROI, academic continuity, and long-term program legacy. In the NIL era, losing athletes also means losing brand ambassadors who might have brought exposure to your program. High turnover also sends a message to potential recruits: “This isn’t a place where people stay.”
In today’s athlete-centered era, shaped by the NCAA Transfer Portal and the influence of NIL, Head Coaches are no longer just strategists; they are connection-builders.
Research into attachment and detachment affirms that NCAA coaches who commit to understanding why athletes leave or stay, and invest in meaningful connections can significantly reduce attrition and create programs where athletes want to stay. When athletes feel deeply connected, supported in their growth, and clear about their future—they don’t just perform better. They stay longer, contribute more, and become ambassadors for your program.
Lizzy Ristano, Client Advisor at Athlete Assessments and former Associate Head Coach at the University of Notre Dame Softball, knows this firsthand;
