The Korea Coaching Development Center (KCDC) is partnering with the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) in the United States to select student-athletes for overseas study.
The selected students will enroll at UIS as freshmen and participate as registered athletes in NCAA Division II.
This selection targets current high school students or graduates, both domestic and international, who wish to pursue both academics and athletics as registered athletes at an overseas university.
Recruitment covers five sports: baseball, soccer, basketball, golf, and tennis, with the number of selected students determined for each sport.
Selected students will receive international student scholarships and have a wide range of majors to choose from. They will also be given priority for dormitory assignments and opportunities to participate in exchange programs (in partnership with Sungkyunkwan University in Korea).
The Center explained, "This will provide a practical pathway for students who wish to balance athletics and academics to study abroad."
The selection process will include both document screening and practical/interview evaluations.
The evaluation will be weighted as follows: interview 40%, practical skills 40%, and letters of recommendation 20%.
Applications will be accepted from December 11, 2025, until 6:00 p.m. on January 12, 2026. Interviews will be held on January 13, and practical evaluations are scheduled for January 14-15.
Final successful candidates will be notified individually via email and text message between January 19 and 20.
The registration process will take place from January 21 to 23.
Required documents include the application form, consent form for collection and use of personal information, self-introduction letter, study plan, two letters of recommendation, certificate of athletic achievements, and a 10-minute video of the applicant’s athletic performance (USB format). All documents except the application form and consent form may be submitted in any format.
A representative from the Korea Coaching Development Center stated, "This program is not simply about studying abroad, but is designed as a pathway for students to grow as officially registered NCAA athletes," adding, "It will provide domestic student-athletes with an opportunity to become competitive on the global stage."
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