March 24, 2025

By Jon Feyen
ScoutU

Considering Kailyn Haig has pitched in international competition and has Olympic aspirations, it’s no surprise that she wants to play at the highest level. Haig took another step in that direction by signing with Iona University, an NCAA Division I school in New York.

“Being a highly academic school – as well as a Division I program – immediately made it top my list of schools,” Haig said. “The coaches at Iona have been in contact with me since the beginning of my recruitment eligibility and have been amazing to talk with. The coaching style fit right into what I was looking for and immediately made me feel as though I would be pushed to where I want to be by LA 2028 if team Great Britain makes the cut! The girls are so upbeat and make me feel comfortable, so after viewing all my options, committing to Iona was a no-brainer!”

Haig is also a standout off the field (4.9 GPA) and has a goal to complete medical school.

“Playing softball at a university with high academics has always been the goal, let alone playing at the Division I level!” Haig said. “I’m so grateful to have been given the choice of Iona and am thankful for everyone, especially my parents, who helped make it happen! I’m confident that these next 4 years will be amazing, and I will continue to thrive both academically and athletically.”

During her last club season with the Abbotsford Outlaws, Haig struck out 42 percent of the batters she faced. That pitching dominance led to her receiving about 15 to 20 offers at the next level.

“Since enrolling with ScoutU, I had around 30-40 phone calls with coaches all around North America from JUCO to NCAA D1!” she said. “I valued each and every call, taking at least one thing away from each coach, building up my confidence and experience in talking to college coaches in general.”

When coaches recruit an athlete, they are evaluating not just their ability, but also their work ethic, character and leadership. It’s often those intangibles that determine who gets that valuable scholarship.

“Kailyn’s dedication, work ethic and strong academics made her an attractive recruit for college programs,” ScoutU’s Susan Kemper said. “Coaches were drawn to her not only for her skills on the field but also for her disciplined approach to training and her drive for continuous improvement. Her positive attitude made a lasting impression, helping her build strong connections with coaches. Throughout the recruiting process, Kailyn showed impressive composure and confidence, approaching each conversation with genuine interest and professionalism. This allowed her to build meaningful relationships with college programs, ultimately leading to her D1 scholarship.”

Haig had plenty of talent, but teaming up with an experienced recruiting guide like Kemper ensured she would receive ample opportunities.

“Susan was there to answer questions from her perspective as needed,” said Kailyn’s dad, Iain. “Building Kailyn’s profile and blasting schools through ScoutU was by far the biggest value to the process and exposed Kailyn to schools she wouldn’t have otherwise known were out there. We were grateful to have Susan to contact through the process.”