Who is Anthony Washington Sr.?

Anthony Washington Sr. is a U.S. Army and Maryland Army National Guard veteran, a coach and official of more than twenty years, and the founder of After Today, LLC. He builds leadership training, athletic recruiting education, and people-first AI systems for student-athletes, families, schools, and organizations. He is based in Pennsylvania and works primarily across Pennsylvania and Maryland.

What does Anthony Washington Sr. do?

He works in three connected areas: athletic recruiting education that gives student-athletes and families a repeatable daily process, leadership training for first-time supervisors and public-sector leaders, and people-first AI and workflow implementation for organizations. He also speaks and runs workshops for schools, teams, and districts.

What is athletic recruiting infrastructure?

Athletic recruiting infrastructure is the repeatable system a family or program uses to manage recruiting — film, academics, communication with coaches, eligibility tracking, and follow-up — instead of relying on exposure events and luck. Anthony teaches recruiting as infrastructure so progress comes from a daily practice rather than a seasonal scramble.

What does people-first AI implementation mean?

People-first AI implementation means adopting AI to improve the work without displacing or sidelining the people who do it. In practice that means starting from the actual workflow, keeping a human accountable for decisions, training staff on the tools they will use, and setting guardrails before scale — not buying software and hoping the team adapts.

Who are Anthony's programs designed for?

Student-athletes and their parents, high school and grassroots coaches, athletic programs, schools and districts, first-time supervisors, public-sector leaders, and organizations that want leadership training or help implementing AI without leaving employees behind.

Does Anthony Washington Sr. provide leadership training?

Yes. He trains first-time supervisors and team leads on the first ninety days, difficult conversations, accountability, and building trust, drawing on his military service, public-sector supervision, and coaching experience. Training is delivered as courses, workshops, and organizational consulting.

How can a school, district, or organization work with Anthony?

Schools, districts, and organizations can book speaking engagements and workshops, bring in leadership training for supervisors and staff, or engage him on recruiting support and AI and workflow implementation. Start on the contact page and say which of those you need.

How can I book Anthony Washington Sr. to speak?

Send an inquiry through the contact page with your event date, audience, format, and location. The speaking page lists topics, session formats, and the audiences he speaks to most often.

Where is Anthony Washington Sr. based?

He is based in Pennsylvania and works primarily across Pennsylvania and Maryland, with virtual sessions available beyond that area.

Home › Blog › Red Flags in College Recruiting: What to Watch for Before You Commit

Red Flags in College Recruiting: What to Watch for Before You Commit

athletic · June 27, 2026

Not every scholarship offer is legitimate. Learn the warning signs that separate genuine recruiting from predatory coaches and programs.

You've worked your entire athletic career for this moment—college offers rolling in, coaches calling, family celebrating. But not every call is gold, and not every offer comes with good intentions. The recruiting process attracts both legitimate programs and coaches with questionable practices. Here's what you need to watch for.

Coaches Who Won't Answer Direct Questions

A red flag the size of a football field: a coach who dodges questions about playing time, scholarship splits, depth chart position, or what happens if you get injured. Legitimate coaches have answers. They know where you fit and they'll tell you straight. If a coach is vague about whether you're a full ride or partial scholarship, get it in writing before you commit. Verbal offers evaporate. Written financial aid packages don't.

Pressure to Commit Immediately

Phrases like "we need to know this week" or "other schools are waiting" are classic manipulation tactics. Quality programs give you time to think, visit, and talk to your family and AAU/club coach. Real recruiting timelines follow NCAA rules anyway. If a coach is pressuring you faster than the recruiting calendar allows, question why they're rushing.

Inconsistent Messaging About the Program

Talk to current players and recent transfers—not just the two your recruiting coordinator introduces you to. If the athletes the coach hand-picks tell a different story than what the coach told you, that's a sign. Current team members will tell you about playing time opportunities, coaching consistency, academic support, and whether the coach keeps his word. Use the transfer portal to see how many players are leaving the program and why.

No Real Facilities Tour or Academic Plan

Programs that won't let you tour weight rooms, see academic advisors, or meet with strength coaches are hiding something. Legitimate D1, D2, and D3 programs take recruiting seriously—that includes showing you where you'll train and study. If a coach won't connect you with the academic advisor for your major, that's a problem.

Changes in Coaching Staff Mid-Process

Coaches leave for better jobs. It happens. But if a program loses its head coach after offering you, your offer may disappear with him. This isn't your fault, but it's your reality. New coaches bring new schemes, new recruiting classes, and sometimes new scholarship distributions. Don't assume your offer holds—get clarity immediately.

Financial Red Flags

If a coach promises you NIL deals, extra money, or special treatment under the table, walk away. That's not recruiting—that's a rules violation that puts you at risk. Legitimate NIL comes through registered collectives and licensed deals, not handshake agreements.

Your Gut Matters

Trust your instincts. If something feels off about a coach or program, it probably is. The college experience is four-plus years of your life. Make sure it's with people who respect you, honor their commitments, and want to develop you as an athlete and person—not just fill a roster spot.

Bottom line: Ask hard questions, verify answers independently, and never let urgency override your due diligence. Your future depends on it.

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