Empowering Student-Athletes for Academic and Athletic Success
Comprehensive academic and recruitment planning for Canadian Student Athletes and Elite Sport Organizations and Clubs.
Get Ready
ESAA will support your journey as a Canadian Student-Athlete and guide your next steps. Elite Student-Athlete Advising supports Student-Athletes aspiring to compete in the NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, 3C2A, NAC, U SPORT, or CCAA.
New commitments and News
Congratulations to Waterloo Warriors' Freshman Matthew McKelvey on your OUA All-Star selection
Chase Rollings of the Ontario Nationals commits to Pratt C.C.
Welcome to Elite Student Athlete Advising!
Established Reputation
ESAA has built a strong, proven track record of successfully guiding Canadian Student‑Athletes to the next level:
- Earning athletic roster spots at NCAA DI, DII levels, as well as, NAIA, and NJCAA level.
- Garnering academic and athletic scholarships
- Excelling in strong academic programs. For example, Engineering, Biotech-Biology, Exercise Science, Business - Finance, Business - Commerce, Business - Sports Marketing.
Through personalized academic planning, recruitment strategies, and eligibility expertise, ESAA has helped athletes not only meet the requirements of these competitive environments but thrive within them.
Expertise
ESAA is built up on the experience of a dedicated Canadian High School Guidance Counsellor with expertise in:
- Post‑secondary planning
- NCAA Core Course requirements and other academic eligibility requirements
- Strategic GPA management
- Ensuring every athlete’s academic profile is compliant, competitive, and aligned with their recruitment goals.
Partners in Process
ESAA designs personalized recruitment road-maps and guides athletes through building relationships with coaches, admissions teams, and sport professionals.
We support every stage of the journey, from pre‑recruitment preparation, active recruitment, commitment, and post‑commitment transition.
Read what our clients and sports experts have to say
Jay Lapp - Toronto Blue Jays Scout
Chris Robinson - Great Lake Canadians
Jay Lapp - Toronto Blue Jays Scout
Cade Sanders possesses expertise in both athletics and education, along with advanced knowledge of NCAA regulations and requirements. His genuine desire to assist Canadian student athletes in achieving their post-secondary goals makes him an ideal facilitator for any student athlete, whether they are pursuing opportunities in the NCAA or the NAIA.
Will Moore - Indiana University
Chris Robinson - Great Lake Canadians
Jay Lapp - Toronto Blue Jays Scout
We highly recommend Cade as an integral tool when planning for and deciding on the best pathway to meet your child's future goals as a Canadian Student Athlete, whether through the NCAA or NAIA.
Chris Robinson - Great Lake Canadians
Chris Robinson - Great Lake Canadians
Chris Robinson - Great Lake Canadians
Cade's knowledge of the Canadian and American education systems is instrumental in setting up all of our Canadian student athletes for success. His services serve as a crucial tool in every student athlete's toolkit as they navigate their options in the NAIA and NCAA while pursuing post-secondary education.
Haley Haskett - Niagara University
Chris Robinson - Great Lake Canadians
Cade came highly recommended for his passion and dedication to helping Canadian student athletes achieve their goals of earning athletic and academic scholarships. He employs a personal and pragmatic approach to assist families in navigating the daunting process of NCAA and NAIA recruitment.
Josh Davis - Troy University
Cade took a proactive approach and provided our family with incredible insight into the schools and sports programs, especially for Canadian Student Athletes, before visits, phone calls, or virtual meetings. Afterwards, Cade was there to guide Josh and the family through an analysis of whether the NAIA or NCAA program was a good fit and provided advice on next steps for the process of committing.
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ESAA LEAD ADVISOR
Cade Sanders
Cade Sanders has 25 years of teaching and leadership experiences in education in Ontario, focusing on supporting the development of Canadian student athletes. He has been a classroom teacher, a Lead-Student Success Teacher, a Graduation Coach, and is currently serving as a Guidance Counsellor. Cade possesses extensive knowledge of Ontario high school planning and how academic plans align with NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA academic eligibility requirements.
For over 27 years, Cade has coached and mentored student athletes in volleyball, track and field, and baseball, while also serving as a hockey trainer and competitive baseball coach. He holds a wide range of NCCP certifications—including Athletics, Baseball, Volleyball, Multi-Sport, Nutrition, Recovery, and Injury Prevention—showcasing his commitment to athlete development and long-term performance.
Cade Sanders attended King's College (King's College University), earning a BA in History in 1996, a DHS in Kinesiology with Distinction from the University of Western Ontario in 1999, and a Bachelor of Education from Althouse College (University of Western Ontario) in 2000.