Scott Lieser runs the Division III program at Saint John's University in central Minnesota. He pitched at St. Cloud State, spent time in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, and took over a program whose previous head coach held the job for 48 years. On Episode 84 of the Baseball Forward Podcast he talked candidly about recruiting at the Division III level. These are the takeaways for families.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube
What does Division III baseball offer?
Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships. What Lieser sells is the whole package: a baseball experience players remember, coaches who care about them away from the field, and relationships with professors and classmates. He understands why a 17-year-old wants Division I. He also points out that there are only so many of those spots, and the real question is fit.
Saint John's adds something many families overlook: a strong alumni network. Lieser watched an alumnus hand a graduating senior a business card at a team dinner and tell him to call Monday about a job. For many families, what happens after baseball is part of the decision.
Cost note: without athletic aid, the bill comes down to academic and need-based aid. Look up each school's average net price before you fall in love with a campus. Our school directory lists average cost and tuition for most programs.
How much will my son play on a D3 roster?
Rosters at Saint John's usually sit in the low 50s. The program plays 40 varsity games and schedules as many varsity reserve games as the Minnesota weather allows, usually around 20, so the back half of the roster gets real innings.
Lieser is honest about the trade-off:
"I don't promise anybody playing time. But what I can promise is I will give everything I have to make sure that you have a great college experience."
Questions to ask any Division III coach:
- How many players are on the roster, and how many at my position?
- Do you play a JV or reserve schedule, and how many games?
- How many catchers do you carry? (Lieser carries four, plus two pitchers who can catch, because someone has to catch every bullpen.)
Why do Division III players transfer less?
At least at Saint John's, players who arrive tend to stay. Lieser credits the experience itself. Incoming transfers are rare, and the ones who do come are usually players the staff recruited hard out of high school.
For a family, low turnover is a good sign. It suggests players are happy with what they found.
Will a D3 coach try to sell us on his school?
Lieser actively avoids it:
"I'd rather somebody want to be here than me convince them to be here."
His reasoning is practical. At some point every coach has to bench a player or have a hard conversation, and a player who was talked into a school is less likely to be all in. If a coach is selling hard, ask yourself why.
How can parents and players agree on what they want in a college?
This is Lieser's most useful piece of advice. Make a list of the things that matter in a college:
- Size
- Location and distance from home
- Division
- In-state or out-of-state
- Public or private
- Cost
Have your son fill it out. Then each parent fills out the same list, separately. Compare the answers. That is where the real conversation starts: Why do you want a big school? What experience are you actually after?
Most teenagers have not thought past today, Lieser says, and that is normal. This exercise gives them a reason to. Our Game Plan can help you turn the answers into a school list.
What should we do on a campus visit?
At Saint John's, the recruit eats lunch with current players, away from the coaches and parents, because many young men will not ask their real questions in front of mom and dad. Ask for that time at every school you visit.
Before you leave, have a direct, transparent conversation with the head coach, with your son in the room.
What does Coach Lieser want from players?
- Teammates who share the vision and push each other.
- A love of competition. Every college in the country has multiple players at your position.
- One thing you do well. Lieser describes himself as a pitcher who could put a fastball low and inside, and that is what he did. "Whatever we're good at, we just need to hammer home with that."
Keep researching
- See the Saint John's University program page for location, cost, and roster details.
- Compare levels with our guide to communication, levels, and choosing the right program.
- Ready to build your list and contact coaches directly? Become a Prospect List Member.