Coach’s Corner – Building Ivy League Winners with John Yurkow (University of Pennsylvania)

08/04/2025 31 min
Coach’s Corner – Building Ivy League Winners with John Yurkow (University of Pennsylvania)

Listen "Coach’s Corner – Building Ivy League Winners with John Yurkow (University of Pennsylvania)"

Episode Synopsis

In this episode of Coach’s Corner, we sit down with John Yurkow, Head Coach at the University of Pennsylvania, to discuss how Ivy League baseball is evolving and what it means for players and parents navigating the recruiting process. Coach Yurkow dives deep into Penn’s player development model, the challenges of roster management in a post-COVID era, and how UPenn remains competitive on the national stage.
We talk about the recruiting timeline, the role of post-grad years, academic rigor, and the shift toward a more selective recruiting process due to roster caps. Yurkow also shares valuable insights into the pre-read process, test-optional policies, financial aid, and how Penn evaluates not only athletic skill but also family engagement and personal character.
🎯 Key Highlights:

Why Ivy League baseball is more competitive than ever

The impact of 34-man roster caps on future recruiting classes

How Penn identifies and evaluates players from camps and showcases

The value of post-grad years in today’s recruiting world

Financial aid, NIL, and academic policies at Penn

Why every parent should try Penn’s financial aid calculator

Test-optional admissions and how they’ve opened up recruiting

What a “perfect family” looks like in the recruiting process


This is a must-listen for families exploring high-academic programs and looking to understand how elite schools like UPenn blend performance, character, and academics.

📲 Download the Baseball Bluebook App to connect with Coach Yurkow and explore the complete Ivy League directory:

https://baseballbluebook.com/app
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