Choosing a college athletic program is one of the most critical decisions a student-athlete and their family will make. Yet, the traditional recruiting process often leaves prospective recruits in the dark. Glossy brochures, campus tours, and formal coach visits rarely reveal the true day-to-day culture of a team. Without honest insights into coaching styles, expectations, and team dynamics, thousands of athletes face negative experiences, benching, or the difficult choice to transfer.
2aDays tackles this challenge directly by serving as a dedicated transparency platform for collegiate athletics. Founded by former dual-sport varsity athlete Keirsten Sires, 2aDays provides verified, candid coach ratings, program reviews, and educational resources directly from current and former college athletes. In this executive interview, Sires discusses the driving force behind 2aDays, the evolving landscape of athletic recruitment, and how peer reviews are reshaping player empowerment.
Q: You founded 2aDays based on your own journey as a college athlete. What specific information gap in the traditional college recruiting process pushed you to launch the platform?
Keirsten Sires: The lack of transparency, accountability and honesty that can sometimes exist during the recruiting process. Oftentimes, athletes arrive on campus with certain expectations based on what was pitched to them, only to find that the reality is very different. Through our platform, we hope to bring more transparency to the process, help honest coaches rise to the top and give athletes the opportunity to hear perspectives from former players and other coaches.
Q: Choosing a college program involves both athletic and academic fit, but coaching style often makes or breaks the student experience. How do 2aDays ratings help prospective athletes evaluate whether a coach's leadership style matches their needs?
Keirsten Sires: We have an overall rating, as well as different factors that each player can rate, which I think is an important distinction. Maybe an athlete doesn't particularly care whether a coach is caring but deeply values how knowledgeable they are. That's the beauty of giving athletes access to this information. They can decide what matters most to them based on the insights available.
In general, we often see that coaches who have good intentions and are trusted by their players receive the highest ratings. I think that goes to show that athletes aren't expecting perfection. They just want to know they're supported.
Q: Maintaining credibility is essential for any review platform. How does 2aDays ensure that reviews remain honest, balanced, and constructive rather than turning into vent boards for frustrated players?
Keirsten Sires: We give users the ability to thumbs-up or thumbs-down each post, which adds another layer of accountability. For example, if a negative rating has 50 thumbs-down, users can take that into account when deciding how much weight to give that particular experience or rating.
Players and coaches can also verify their profiles, which adds another important layer of context for users. While everyone has the right to share their own experience, we believe small steps like these can help create an environment that encourages transparency and allows athletes to make their own informed decisions.
Q: Modern college athletics moves fast with the transfer portal, NIL deals, and evolving NCAA guidelines. How has the growing focus on athlete empowerment changed how high school recruits approach their decision-making?
Keirsten Sires: I think it's helped athletes make more informed decisions, but it's also created fewer roster spots for high school athletes in particular. Each aspect of the evolving landscape has its pros and cons.
For example, the transfer portal has created a great opportunity for college athletes to leave programs when they're unhappy, but it's also created a situation where college coaches are recruiting from the portal first, which means fewer opportunities for high school athletes.
NIL has created an amazing opportunity for athletes to earn money through third-party partnerships or by starting their own businesses, but we're also seeing it move toward more of a pay-for-play mentality, especially in football.
Overall, I think keeping athlete empowerment as the north star is important, but we also have to recognize that there are trade-offs along the way.
Q: College coaches also face tremendous pressure to build winning rosters and retain talent. How can coaching staff use athlete feedback on 2aDays to improve team culture and find the right recruits for their programs?
Keirsten Sires: We work with plenty of college coaches who want us to post about their profiles, do interviews with us or ask for feedback during their time as a college coach.
It's easy to look at our site and assume the worst, but more than 70% of the coach ratings on our platform are positive. That being said, we always encourage coaches to take the feedback they receive and see if there's an opportunity to learn from it.
Maybe that means peeling back the layers to understand what the core issues are and figuring out how to implement meaningful changes. I also always encourage players and coaches to have honest conversations with each other first. At the end of the day, communication is incredibly important on both sides.
Q: What key advice do you give high school athletes and their parents as they begin researching college programs and speaking with prospective coaches?
Keirsten Sires: As hard as it may be to actually do, and I know I had a tough time with this myself, my biggest advice is to leave your ego at the door.
Just because your friends are posting on social media or everyone is talking about where they've committed doesn't mean you need to rush the process or choose a school or division that isn't right for you.
At the end of the day, you're the person who's going to wake up every morning at this new place, be part of that team and earn that degree. Make the decision that's best for you, and don't let outside pressure or what everyone else is doing influence that choice.
The college recruiting journey should never rely on guesswork or one-sided sales pitches. By giving current and former student-athletes a trusted voice, 2aDays provides high school recruits with the authentic perspective they need before making a life-changing commitment. When athletes understand team culture, coaching expectations, and program realities early on, they find better fits and build rewarding collegiate careers.
As the athletic landscape continues to demand greater openness and accountability, transparent data and peer feedback will play a crucial role in sports recruitment. Platforms like 2aDays bridge the gap between marketing promises and locker room realities, making the entire ecosystem healthier for athletes, parents, and coaches alike.
To learn more visit https://www.2adays.com/
