Harasymiak Preaches Confidence In His Program's Recruiting

UMass football trying to sell vision, outline and future to high school recruits

(UMass Athletics)

UMass football is out to an 0-10 start, which was something head coach Joe Harasymiak and his staff never could have imagined when they began their campaign in August.

UMass secured over 15 verbal commitments during the offseason, and Harasymiak expressed the importance of selling the program’s vision to them at his latest press conference.

Due to unknown factors, one 2026 high school recruit has changed his commitment away from the Minutemen. That being Yendor Mack, who recently committed to Coastal Carolina.

“Right now, you can’t sell anything from a results standpoint,” Harasymiak said. “It’s the vision, the outline and the future. We’re fighting everyday. We have official visits coming up, and we’ll still try and fight. I think the guys we’ve identified, we’re challenging them that this is a place that’ll be a platform of change.”

More than a week and a half ago, UMass Athletics announced the hiring of Thorr Bjorn, the new deputy athletic director. At the Minutemen’s first midweek MACtion game last Wednesday against Northern Illinois, UMass hierarchy was in attendance to map out what the future might look like.

“We’re doing the best we can at selling that vision, you know,” Harasymiak said. “For instance, I know our group of trustees were at the game on Wednesday and I got to meet with them and Ryan (Bamford) and Thorrr the next day. (We got to) take them around the facility. That idea of belief that they have in us, they have in me and I have in them is great. It was great to get with them and see that.”

It’ll be an uphill climb for the Minutemen recruiting staff with more 2026 commits fielding offers from different schools. Harasymiak emphasized that the staff still must focus on the present, though.

“I’m excited about it,” he said. “It won’t always go the way you want, but I think that’s what we really need to do. We have two weeks left, we really have 12 days. Guys will have decisions to make, we’ll have decisions to make, but it is certainly not that time yet. It’s my job to go compete at a high level, and that is what we are looking forward to doing.”

Due to the massive number of injuries the team has faced this season, the 2025 recruiting class will get the chance to hit the ground running early. True freshmen Elijah Pedro, Elijah Faulkner, JC Clark and Jax Markovich will see a high volume of snaps with the wide receiver, secondary and tight end rooms decimated.

“Elijah (Faulkner) probably plays as hard as anyone,” Harasymiak said. “Pedro’s been on the scout team working, and working and working. JC (Clark) started the year there, but with the injuries, they’ve stepped up. It’s going to be exciting, they’re going to be anxious and they’re going to be nervous. I think the players around them have to step up, but I’m excited for those guys.”

He saw the freshman group as one that didn’t need motivation to embrace their opportunity.

“I think motivation is not something that really goes on in Division I football,” he said. “What I mean by that is, motivating to me is telling my daughters to clean their room and make their beds. We have football players that are here, and they view this game as something that can change their lives. Those young guys, I think we did a good job at targeting that, and I’m excited for them.”

His concern, though, was that his current roster didn’t contain enough players obsessed with the game of football.

You can like something, you can love something, but the way I think, we need more players who are obsessed with the game,” Harasymiak said. “It’s about your curiosity, your preparation, and I truly believe we are here to inspire and teach. Inspiration comes from within, teachings comes from helping them live their life and play the game the right way.”

However, the coaching staff still remains excited about the experience their young players will get in the last two weeks of the season.

“That’s what your program should be,” Harasymiak said. “Getting young guys an opportunity to go play, and hopefully they get a platform where they can do a great job.”