Transfer U aims to bridge the gap in the transfer portal and guide athletes to their next home
How Transfer U Is Bridging the Gap in the College Softball Transfer Portal
We are all familiar with the transfer portal in college softball. It is easily one of the most stressful moments in an athlete’s journey because many have no idea if anyone is interested or if any program will need them. Every year athletes jump into that pool for different reasons, and most could use real help finding a new home. That is where Transfer U steps in.
Transfer U was created with one purpose: to fix a growing problem in collegiate softball. It comes from two respected softball recruiting mentorship programs, Her Dream Exposure and Recruiting, founded by Christina Wiley, and McDonald Fastpitch Consulting, led by Iver McDonald. Both Christina and Iver have built their reputations on helping high school athletes navigate recruiting and preparing them physically, mentally, and academically for the next level.
They are mentors who live inside the recruiting space every single day. From their perspectives, they kept seeing the same challenges. Athletes often struggle with communication, confidence, and understanding how to market themselves. Coaches often struggle to find athletes who are ready for the demands and expectations of college softball. The gap is not small, and the transfer portal continues to widen that divide.
The numbers speak clearly. More than half of Division I and Division II softball athletes who enter the portal never find a new home. Nearly half of them stop playing altogether. It is even harder for athletes trying to transfer up a division, and JUCO athletes usually face the toughest journey. Yet Christina and Iver receive messages every single day from college coaches at every level searching for available transfers to complete rosters.
Christina Wiley described the reality as something most athletes never see. “Every year around 1,700 to 2,000 Division I and Division II athletes enter the portal. Only about 500 find a new home, and many have to move down a division to rebuild stats and try again. Most never land anywhere at all, and a lot of them stop playing.”
“There are over 6,000 JUCO athletes every year, and only around 30 percent end up transferring up to continue playing. A big part of that comes from the lack of visibility,” said Wiley. “There is no portal for them to enter, no real great way to market themselves, and there is not some great direct path connecting them to programs in higher divisions.”
“That is exactly why our role matters. We provide the structure, connections, and guidance JUCO athletes need to find the right next home,” said Iver McDonald.
So what is causing the disconnect?
Athletes enter the portal for countless valid reasons. Injury, roster cuts, coaching changes, programs shutting down, family situations, or simply realizing they need a better fit. At the same time, coaches at many programs, especially smaller ones, are scrambling to fill rosters they cannot finish. The talent is there. The opportunities are there. The connection is not.
Christina also explained why so many coaches turn to them first. “We are often one of the first people coaches contact because they trust the relationships we have built. When coaches look for transfers, they check scholarship history, stats, character, and any team issues. They want highlight videos and real context. We pull all of that together for them so they do not have to scroll the portal hoping to find someone. It becomes a one stop shop.”
Transfer U is here to fix that.
With a combined network of more than 250 college coaches, Christina and Iver built Transfer U as a dedicated platform to help transfer athletes find their next home and to help programs find the players they need. Transfer U is not just for athletes and it is not just for schools. It is built intentionally to serve both sides.
“Connecting solid people with other solid people has always been my passion, and now we finally have a system that allows us to use that gift to change lives. Transferring can feel daunting and overwhelming, but our personal relationships with college coaches, along with the thorough vetting we do with every transfer athlete, set us apart. We take tremendous pride in the quality of our work and in the reputations we have built in the softball community,” said Iver McDonald.
For many softball athletes, their recruiting journey started with Her Dream and McDonald Fastpitch Camps, which Iver has successfully ran in southeast Houston since 2012. Now, for thousands more, Transfer U becomes Her next chapter. It is a resource built to guide them, support them, and connect them during one of the most uncertain transitions of their careers.
Transfer U is here to bridge the gap, empower the athlete, support the program, and make sure talented softball players do not fall through the cracks and instead find the home they deserve.
In the world of college softball, the transfer portal can be a stressful and trying time. Having someone in your corner who already has strong relationships and trusted connections with coaches across the country can make all the difference.
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