Renkens to speak about sports recruiting realities

Johnston Sun Rise ·

If you’re a parent of a Johnston High School student athlete, plan to take in Jack Renkens’ program next Thursday night.

Even if you’re a parent of a student who participates in youth sports but will soon enter high school, Renkens program promises to be quite the eye opener.

Who is Jack Renkens? He’s entering his 19th year touring the United States and has established himself as the most sought after athletic educational speaker in the nation. He has presented over 3,500 seminars ranging from keynote speaker at 37 state athletic conferences, Mike Championship Basketball, football clinics, college financial planning groups, sports camps and high schools from coast to coast.

Renkens, who has coached at every level and is seasoned as a highly-respected recruiter lives in Arizona and owns and operates Recruiting Realities.

Although he’s highly sought after and usually requires a fee, Renkens is coming to JHS next Thursday evening, Jan. 18, for free.

Keith Cory, the Athletic Director at JHS, made the announcement earlier this week while saying, “we’re honored that Jack has agree to come to Johnston and speak to the parents of our student athletes. As people will learn, he has quite the track record.”

His program, which Cory said would run approximately 50 minutes and include visuals as well as a question and answer segment, is one for student-athletes, their parents and even booster club members that will enlighten the audience by revealing the real process behind college recruiting.

Renkens has seen it all. He has coached at the high school, junior college and college level and has been part of three NCAA national tournament basketball berths. His personal experiences as a coach recruiting players, as an athletic director and as a parent are what set Renkens apart.

Although his resume is long and includes a myriad of experiences, Renkens is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where he was a standout All-League selection, team captain and MVP in 1974. He earned his Master’s Degree at the United States Sports Academy in Mobile, AL. and has done substantial graduate work at Northern Arizona University.

He has served as coach at Winslow High School in Arizona, and as a coach and athletic director at Assumption College in Worcester. More importantly, he has witnessed the game from all sides.

However, it wasn’t until his daughter Brooke became a nationally ranked recruited basketball player that Renkens discovered about the recruiting process, but also how many myths exist.

His message next Thursday night, beginning at 7 o’clock inside the JHS Auditorium, will be about collegiate athletic recruiting.

As Renkens related to Cory during a recent telephone conversation, “Recruiting is simple, it’s a game; now the rules!”

There is no fee to attend Renkens special program and Cory, as well as many JHS teaches and coaches, are excited about what parents and people, in general, will learn by attending the event.