Head Coach Art Inabinet of Francis Marion University gave us a look into his recruiting style and pointed out something really important that all players should be aware of when contacting college coaches. The Patriots are an NCAA Division II school with a winning tradition under Coach Inabinet. The Patriots compete in the Conference Carolinas.
“Players need to make contact, not Mom or Dad.”
– Coach Inabinet, Francis Marion University
Quick Facts
| School: | Francis Marion University |
| Division: | NCAA Division II |
| Conference: | Conference Carolinas |
| Location: | Florence, SC |
| Student Population: | 4,250 |
| Website: | fmupatriots.com |
| Twitter: | @fmupatsbaseball |
| Questionnaire: | Recruit Form |
Recruiting Q&A – with Head Coach Art Inabinet
What are your typical scouting methods?
50 % workouts 50 % scouting (in person, videos).
How do you recommend players contact you if they are interested in your program?
Send an email with video.
If a player contacts you, what are you most interested in?
Video.
Any general advice for players that want to play college baseball?
Player needs to make contact not Mom or Dad.
Any other comments about your program that you’d like to share?
Great facility and really good academics.
>> Read more: Recruiting Q&As from college coaches <<
Program Overview – Patriot Baseball
Head Coach Art Inabinet has led the Francis Marion baseball program for over 20 years. The veteran coach has a career record well over .500 and has a NCAA Division II World Series appearance on his resume. Coach Inabinet has also produced 12 MLB draft picks during his tenure. The rest of the staff at FMU has some impressive experience, and have coached at the Division I level, and have produced several MLB draft picks themselves.
Until the 2022 season, the FMU baseball program was a member of the Peach Belt Conference, before moving to Conference Carolinas. FMU finished the 2022 season with an impressive 29-19 overall and 16-14 conference record. Conference Carolinas is one of the most competitive, if not the most competitive, conferences in the country. The conference regularly has several teams ranked in the national polls throughout the season.
Francis Marion University has one of the best facilities in all of DII baseball and is a huge selling point for the program along with the veteran staff. The stadium is part of an $11.1 million athletic complex and has a capacity of 1,755. With grandstands and pro-style dugouts, it’s a truly impressive stadium. The stadium receives frequent upgrades and maintenance as continues to be a great stadium for FMU players to call home.
The FMU program frequently puts on prospect camps throughout the year. All upcoming camps can be found here. FMU also keeps its social media up to date and posts frequent updates about the program, which is another great resource for players to learn more about the program and team culture.
FMU also has a Developmental Team that competes against universities and JUCOs across the Carolinas. This is a great opportunity for players that are interested in the school or baseball program but may need an additional year or two before they are ready to compete at the Division II level. More information about the Developmental Team can be found at FMU’s athletic website.
School Overview – FMU
Founded in 1970, Francis Marion University is located in Florence, SC. With an average class size of 20 students, FMU students are able to find a balance between a large and small school size.
Francis Marion University is a public university and offers well-respected academics with affordable tuition. FMU offers more than 75 majors and areas of study with a core class curriculum in the liberal arts.
Florence, SC is less than 100 miles away from the Atlantic Coast, and the South Carolina climate offers warm temperatures year-round. Florence is known to have a well-established small business community, which offers a lot of exciting opportunities looking to gain entrepreneurial experience and make connections to jump-start their careers.
Much like the campus, the city of Florence is a great middle-ground for students looking for a small-town feel without sacrificing the benefits of a larger city. Florence also has a rich history with several museums and historical sites throughout the city.
Students that are interested in learning more about the academic programs, admission requirements, and student life at Francis Marion University are invited to visit fmarion.edu for more information.
Closing Remarks
We would like to thank Coach Inabinet for answering the Recruiting Q&A, and especially for bringing up a very important topic; parents shouldn’t contact schools on behalf of their sons. It’s no doubt that parents have the best intentions and will help in any way to see their son achieve his dreams, but the communication with a coach should come directly from the player.
The most important part to remember on this topic is college coaches recruit players not only on their physical abilities, but how they carry themselves, how they act toward others, and how they communicate. All of these qualities are taken into consideration by coaches, as they want to be sure their recruits will succeed in the classroom. The recruiting process is a chance for coaches to determine if they believe a certain prospect would represent their program and school well, and the way a player communicates is a leading indicator of this.
For example, if a player constructs a professionally worded email, responds in a timely fashion, and is respectful throughout the communication process, a coach will develop a great impression of the players and possibly before they even see them play. Parents are definitely encouraged to support their kids in the recruiting process and offer advice, but learning to effectively communicate is something extremely important for all college student-athletes.
Players interested in Francis Marion University and the baseball program are encouraged to follow Coach Inabinet’s advice and visit the above links to learn more. The FMU baseball program has a lot to offer including a proven staff, great facilities, and challenging academics. Again, we’d like to thank Coach Inabinet and wish the Patriots the best of luck in their upcoming season!
