Alex SwensonRecruiting Advisor| This is a digital version of Alex

Your athlete does not need the biggest logo to have a great college experience.

25 Jun 2026 · 2 min

Watch on YouTube

1:44

In this concise advisory video, the speaker—drawing on personal experience as a coach and recruiter—argues that families and student‑athletes should look beyond the high‑profile Power Four conferences when selecting a college. He highlights five Division I institutions that combine strong academics, competitive athletics, and supportive campus environments: Richmond, Santa Clara, University of Denver, William & Mary, and Villanova. For each school he notes key strengths such as graduation rates, athletic breadth, geographic advantages, and academic reputation. The overarching message is that the best fit for a student‑athlete is determined by development, competition, graduation prospects, and overall college experience, not by the size of the school’s logo.

Chapters

Here are 5 underrated D1 schools you should pay attention to. Most families are only looking at the same schools: SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12. And I get it. I coached and recruited at one. They're super shiny and sexy. But if you're only chasing Power Four logos, you're missing a lot of really good D1 opportunities. There are schools outside of the Power Four that have strong athletics, strong academics, great campus life, and a real student athlete experience. Here are 5 underrated D1 schools more families should be looking at. Number 1 is Richmond. High-level academics, strong athletics, and a great student-athlete graduation rate. This is one of those schools where fit matters more than the name recognition. Number 2, Santa Clara. Strong academics, great location, and really good athletic tradition, especially on the West Coast. Number 3, University of Denver. Yes, they are D1, one of the biggest non-football athletic departments in the country. Hockey, lacrosse, soccer, skiing, golf, tennis— they win across multiple sports. Number 4, William Mary. High academic school, strong student support, and a great option for the right athlete who wants serious academics and Division I sports. Number 5, Villanova. Most people only think basketball, but Villanova is strong across athletics, academics, and student outcome. The lesson here is simple, all right? The right school is not always the biggest logo. It's the school where your athlete can develop, compete, graduate, and actually enjoy the next 4 years. Stop chasing names, start studying fit. Good luck.