Meet Kirk McNabb

I have seen the college selection process from both sides: as a student at Mansfield University (NCAA Division II) in Mansfield, Pennsylvania and as head coach and assistant baseball coach at the University of Guelph.

As a high school student, I loved sports, especially hockey and baseball. I was fortunate to excel at baseball, and was told I had the potential to earn a U.S. College scholarship. While family members supported my academic and athletic endeavors, there was no one equipped to guide me through the steps necessary in choosing a college or university. It was by chance that a baseball coach suggested Mansfield University during my final year of high school.

This lack of planning meant that there was no time to properly explore the school's curriculum or baseball program and it was too late to get financial assistance in the first semester. Taking a huge chance, I leapt at the opportunity to go. And luckily, my gamble paid off. I received an International Student Tuition waiver (based on Academic and Athletic qualifications)

While at Mansfield University, I had the privilege of playing in the NCAA Division II College World Series (1992). Despite the team's loss in the championship game to the University of Tampa, I feel fortunate that everything clicked for me - a good education, an outstanding baseball program and enough good friends and memories to last a lifetime.

During my time as a baseball head coach and assistant coach at the University of Guelph, I saw thousands of qualified students looking to be recruited into the university's sports program. And, unfortunately, I also saw many of these same prospective student athletes arriving ill-prepared for the process. Or, students who return home after a semester, disappointed.

Why? Because the due diligence necessary to match a university with the student's interests and personality wasn't done ahead of time.

To learn how to put a Game Plan together in order to make the college recruiting process easier for students as well as parents is why I started Headstart College Consulting. Headstart College Consulting is a company dedicated to helping student athletes reach their dreams through informative products and one-on-one consulting, as well as consulting seminars for high school groups and sports organizations, guiding and preparing students during one of their most critical phases of life - choosing the right university or college. We are not a recruiting agency.

I have written two playbooks: one for grade 12 students and the other for students in grades 9 to 11. These books cut through the clutter and share my inside tips and years of experience watching which students are selected and which ones aren't.

While high school student athletes are my main focus, I also provide consulting services for parents, coaches and minor sports organizations to help create a game plan that will develop their youth athletes both mentally and physically in order to reach the college level while keeping the fun factor in sports.

I live in Guelph, Ontario, Canada with my wife Karen and our two sons, Nolan and Braydon. Outside of running Headstart College Consulting, I volunteer as a Minor Hockey coach for my sons' teams in Guelph, I am a guest instructor for baseball teams and in the summer months I am the Athletic Director at the Sports and Arts Center at Island Lake in Pennsylvania. I have also had the privilege of playing and coaching baseball in Paris, France and running instructions with present and former players and coaches on the Toronto Blue Jays.

Visit our store for more information about Kirk's handbooks for students. To arrange a consultation, simply contact Kirk directly.

View our press release.