The Portal Didn’t create the trust gap - it exposed it

Did you know the transfer portal has grown by over 400% since 2018 — but trust between coaches and athletes has been eroding for longer? The portal gets the blame. But most coaches will tell you the exits they didn't see coming started with a relationship that quietly broke down months earlier.

Before the portal existed, athletes who lost trust in their coach stayed anyway. Now they have a choice.

The portal didn't create the problem. It just made it visible.

What signals does your program watch for before a trust breakdown becomes a departure?