In this interview, Cooper Beard, a high school senior from the small town of Hundley Project, Montana, discusses his college recruiting experience and how he ultimately committed to Dickinson State University (NAIA). Cooper received offers and interest from several programs, including Montana Western, Rocky Mountain College, Montana State, University of Montana, Cornell, Brown, Eastern Washington, Idaho State, and NDSU. He credits Trenton Luera’s personalized recruiting service for teaching him effective email and direct‑message communication with coaches, promoting his profile on Twitter, and providing consistent, one‑on‑one support—contrasting this with larger services like NCSA. Cooper highlights key lessons such as staying proactive in contacting coaches, the value of personal outreach, and the importance of evaluating program culture and facilities. He advises families to consider the cost of a recruiting service as an investment that can be worthwhile compared to scholarship savings, and recommends the service for its personalized attention. The interview serves as a testimonial and guidance for other athletes contemplating paid recruiting assistance.
Chapters
All right, so I'm here with Cooper, uh, class of 2026, one of our guys that we worked with. Um, super excited to have you on, man. Just kind of talk about your process a bit. It was a blast getting to work with you, to be honest, and it didn't even— didn't even go too long, to be honest, because you kind of, kind of wrapped it up early, I guess. Uh, mind kind of quickly introducing yourself, kind of where you're, you're committed to and all that good stuff?
Yeah, my name is Cooper Beard. I go to Hundley Project, Montana. Really small school outside of Billings, Montana. I'm committed to an NAIA program, Dickinson State, and I'm pretty excited for that.
Yeah, 100%, man. So yeah, I mean, you're committed to Dickinson State. Mind telling everybody kind of like what was the outcome of your process? I know Dickinson State wasn't your only offer. You mind kind of just giving everyone the picture in terms of like the options that you had?
Yeah, so I had quite a couple, like I had 3 offers. Lots of other interests from around like different states, thanks to Trenton and his team. But I had an offer from Montana Western, Rocky, and Dickinson. And then just Dickinson, like, just their culture stood out to me. Like, they didn't have the greatest year this year, but how the coaches and team rallied around each other, I really liked that. And on top of that, their weight room. So that's always a plus.
Yeah, 100%. Man, nice to have some, some good facilities. So, um, cool. Well, yeah, I know it didn't, you know, it didn't start out exactly like easy breezy, I guess. What was kind of like the process, uh, for you in terms of starting with us? And then what was that kind of like in the beginning? Like, where were you kind of at initially when you first started working with us?
Yeah, we had no idea what we were doing, honestly. So we were just told you're— if you're good enough, they'd find you, all that type of stuff. And like, my coaches tried helping out, like, they have connections with local schools, which was nice. But when it came to, like, D2 programs, schools from way out, way outside of Montana, that's where you guys came in and really helped us and then just help us there. You taught me how to send emails how to communicate with coaches, and that's what I think really helped me get the success in recruiting I got.
Yeah, 100%, man. You're, you're a killer at that. I mean, I think that another thing too was the Twitter posts. You were really on top of that too. I think that, that helped out a ton. So that's, that's awesome stuff, man. Now I think you, you talk a little bit like the, the— this high school you went to is pretty small. I think the town that you, you are in, I know it's, it's outside of, uh, you know, one of the major cities over there in Montana, but it's still, you know, pretty small, the, the city that you're in. Like, how many people are in the town that you're in, would you say?
I'd say we got 1,000 people in our town.
Yeah, yeah. So pretty— I mean, it doesn't, doesn't usually get too smaller than that, I would, I would say. Yeah, that's, that's pretty rare. So, but still you were able to get recruited. I mean, yeah, I think one of the things that you, you didn't touch on quite yet is like you were still talking to— were you talking to just Montana or were you talking about the Montana State and Montana a little bit?
I was talking to both of them and then like Cornell. Brown, those Ivy League schools, but that didn't get—
Yeah, for sure. And I guess just my point is, like, you know, even though you're from a small town, like, obviously those offers didn't happen, but, you know, still were talking to them, still had some pretty serious interest on that side. I think even like Eastern Washington too, right?
Yeah, that's another one I was talking to.
Yeah, for sure.
Talked a little bit with Idaho State, just like, just built relationships, and we'll see where that goes. NDSU was another one, talked with a little bit, but I mean, with the transfer portal, you never know what happens.
So yeah, yeah, 100%, man. Um, but no, that's, that's, uh, I guess with that, like, what do you feel like in your process was some of the more helpful things that, that happened? Like, what were some of the key lessons that you learned?
Definitely learning to like stay on top of DMing a coach or texting a coach. Like I always thought they didn't answer, they probably saw it and they just didn't want me, but that's not the case. And just how to go about all of that was really helpful.
100%. And now obviously, you know, we kind of talked about like your process a little bit. When What was kind of like the first time that you saw some of our stuff? Like, how did you, I guess, come across it and, you know, kind of start working with us?
I want to say, man, that's a while ago. Oh man. I would say Twitter. I think I saw your first scholarship account come across and we tried working with like the bigger and like NCSA and all that and it just wasn't personal. Like you guys are personal and that's what me and my family really liked.
Yeah, 100%. And then were you, were you on that first initial call with, uh, with Joe and—
Yeah. Yeah.
Okay. Got it.
Yeah.
So I guess what, like, what made you and your family kind of decide like, hey, this is, this is what we're gonna do and we're gonna—
Oh, we just knew like you guys were good people. Shoot, Joe's still reposting my stuff and quoting my stuff on Twitter, and I haven't talked to him since then. But we just, we had that feeling you guys were good people and personal.
Yeah, well, I'm glad to hear that. I appreciate it, man. And it's, uh, oh, it's, it's been a blast, and I've enjoyed it a ton. Um, yeah, I think, uh, is there anything like— I know obviously you mentioned some of the other people in the space that do stuff, you know, in terms of NCSA obviously being the biggest one, and you know, a lot of families that we work with, you know, worked with them in the past and said similar things that you said. Um, what would you say to anyone that's like listening to this right now going, you know, kind of on the fence or thinking about working with us, or maybe already booked in a call? What would kind of be their— your, your thoughts on them?
I would say, and if you're wanting to like rely on someone, especially with you're paying money for a program, they're always gonna be there for you. Unlike these other programs, it's gonna be different people texting you all the time. And that's what we found out, like with NCSA and all that. But it's you the whole time just texting us, same person, same thoughts. So yeah.
Yeah, absolutely, man. Well, awesome. No, I appreciate, uh, again, it's been a blast getting to work with you, man. Anything else you wanna say to anyone else that are listening? Just any thoughts, lessons, anything on that side?
I mean, word of advice, when I'd say like if someone was contemplating because of the cost, like compared to a scholarship and paying for college, it's way like it's worth it.
Yeah, 100%, man. Yeah, well, I know you got, I mean, you got a full ride, right, to Dickinson? Yeah, yeah, yeah, like housing covered as well and everything.
No, NAIA can't do that, but pretty much with like, yeah, with my, um, GPA though and like local scholarships, I'll be set. Yeah, so just got to keep working hard and hopefully keep that full tuition scholarship, but we'll see.
Absolutely, man. Well, awesome. I appreciate it. Um, if you're watching this and you are looking to book a call with us or looking to work with us, you can do so, um, at our website down below or wherever you're watching this at. Um, also, if you did already book a call with us You know, looking forward to talking to you then. Hopefully we'll be, uh, we'll be seeing you soon. Appreciate you, Cooper.
