Behind the Blueprint: Jax Egan
Building Culture and Consistency with Jax Egan, Eastern Kentucky
When you work in college football, you learn fast that success is about more than schemes or star rankings. It’s about people, relationships, trust, and creating a culture that lasts longer than any one season.
For Eastern Kentucky’s Director of Player Personnel, Jax Egan, that belief sits at the center of everything he does.
Egan’s journey has taken him from Kansas to Eastern Kentucky, working through different programs and perspectives that shaped how he builds rosters today. He’s learned that there’s no single formula for success, just a clear identity and a commitment to doing things the right way.
At EKU, Egan and the staff pride themselves on efficiency and intentionality. They don’t chase every player; they focus on finding the ones who fit. Recruiting isn’t about collecting stars or chasing headlines, it’s about building a roster that aligns with the program’s values and vision.
“We’re not recruiting 500 guys a year,” Egan explains. “We’re looking for the 100 who really fit who we are—guys who can grow here.”
That kind of precision matters at the FCS level, where resources and time are limited. Every evaluation, conversation, and offer carries weight. It forces staffs to know exactly what they’re looking for and how each piece fits into the larger picture.
Egan describes their approach as “fit over flash.” That mindset not only impacts who they recruit but also how they retain. In an era dominated by the transfer portal, keeping players engaged and connected has become just as important as bringing new ones in.
He’s the first to admit the job has changed dramatically. Recruiting calendars are constant now, and technology has made evaluation faster but also more competitive. Programs that once had time to breathe now live in a year-round cycle of scouting, communication, and follow-up.
Yet amid that pace, Egan sees an opportunity. The constant motion demands clarity, clear communication, defined priorities, and a shared vision among the staff. He credits EKU’s culture with helping everyone stay aligned.
That culture starts with connection. Egan doesn’t see players as transactions or numbers on a board. He spends time with them in the building, checking in, building relationships, and earning trust. In his view, that’s what makes retention possible.
“You can’t fake it,” he says. “Players can tell if you really care or if you’re just checking a box. When they know you’ve got their back, that’s when they’ll buy in.”
It’s a philosophy shaped by mentors who showed him what good leadership looks like, people who invested in him the same way he now invests in his players and staff. Egan credits those early lessons for teaching him the importance of curiosity, patience, and humility.
Every program is different, but the best ones, he says, share a common thread: they know who they are.
Egan’s work is about more than building rosters, it’s about building identity. At Eastern Kentucky, that means creating a team that plays with toughness, preparation, and belief. He’s quick to point out that it’s not just about recruiting better players, but about creating an environment where those players can become their best.
It’s the long game, the kind of development that doesn’t always grab headlines but shows up when it matters most.
“When you see a kid you believed in make a big play—that’s what makes it all worth it,” Egan says. “Because you know how much time went into that moment.”