In the News

Cardinal Grange, a leading executive search and advisory firm specializing in placing transformational talent, and D1.relocation, the premier relocation firm built by and for college athletics administrators and coaches, today announced a strategic alliance to enhance the candidate onboarding and retention experience.

How Strategic Planning Helped One Assistant Coach Navigate Mid-Season Chaos By Ernest Firth III, D1.relocation COO The news arrived swiftly last November: the Head Coach was out. For the remaining staff, the immediate emotional reaction quickly gave way to a single, pressing reality: an involuntary, inevitable ticket to the coaching carousel. The assistant coaches knew a move was certain, but the new destination and the timeline for their next job was completely unknown. The stress for one assistant coach and his family was immense. They knew they couldn't afford to wait to start preparing; the logistical headache would consume the critical months needed for networking and interviewing. This coach's next move was a pivotal moment in his career, and he knew he needed an advocate, not just a moving quote. His wife made the strategic decision to reach out to D1.relocation for confidential, pre-decision consulting . In college athletics, moving for the job is a given. But this coach understood the advantage of securing the logistics plan before the contract was signed. He needed a strategy that accounted for multiple possible destinations while protecting his job search. Here’s how D1.relocation helped this coach’s family turn a period of disruption into one of strategic readiness: 1. The Coordinated Closing: Single-Source Efficiency The coach owned a family home that he knew had to sell quickly to provide funds for the next purchase. The anxiety over showing the house during the football season was high. D1.relocation immediately activated its integrated real estate resources. The Plan: Through a single D1.relocation point of contact, the entire real estate engine was managed. This single-source approach streamlined communication across both the buying and selling brokers and the home loan process, allowing D1.relocation to strategically coordinate the closing dates for the sale and the purchase. This critical coordination ensured the family was ready to list their home immediately upon signing their new contract, eliminating the risk of costly temporary housing or missed opportunities. 2. Planning for the Unknown: Multi-Destination Logistics The coach's job search led to interviews in three distinct regions: the Southeast, the Midwest, and the West Coast. Moving estimates vary wildly by distance. The Solution : D1.relocation provided simultaneous, flexible logistics plans for all three scenarios with a relocation playbook. They had vetted moving partners and calculated costs and timelines for each city, including the complexities of shipping cars and securing temporary housing. This ensured the coach and his spouse had the logistics and costs answered for every potential offer and wasn't scrambling for information during high-stakes interviews. 3. Family Support, Unburdened by Logistics The coach and his wife's greatest concern was stability for their children. They couldn't feasibly research the best schools, doctors, and neighborhoods across three different regions while the coach was on the road. The Outcome : D1.relocation’s personalized services stepped in. They provided detailed, pre-vetted comparisons of school districts in all three potential cities, pre-checked local doctors based on the expected insurance plans, and identified suitable neighborhoods based on commute times. This comprehensive research allowed the wife to focus on the emotional transition, not the impossible research task. The Final Result: Seamless Arrival When the official offer for a coordinator position came in late December, the coach was able to accept immediately and focus entirely on assembling his staff and recruiting. His house was listed and sold in under two weeks. His family experienced a seamless transition from turmoil to triumph. They arrived settled, organized, and ready to enjoy the new opportunity. The lesson is clear: In the volatile world of college athletics, your D1.relocation specialist is your strategic advantage. Don't wait for the contract to be signed—prepare for your best landing now.

Moving Made Easy D1.relocation Chief Operating Officer Ernest Firth III recently joined the Coach's Wife Life podcast and host Kristen Eargle to answer some frequently asked questions regarding the relocation process in college athletics. Below is a transcript of their conversation. What do you hear from coach’s wives as the toughest parts of moving? If there’s one thing I’ve learned from talking to other coaches’ wives, it’s that moving isn’t just a change of address—it’s a full-blown life reset. Every. Single. Time. You leave behind your people: friends who feel like family, a school or church community you’ve grown into, maybe even actual family if you were lucky enough to live nearby. Then you land in a new town and have to figure everything out again—where to buy groceries, how to get your kids enrolled in school, who to trust with your hair (because let’s be real, that’s no small thing). You’re building a whole new routine from scratch while trying to form new friendships and feel like you belong. And while you’re juggling all of that, you’re also helping your kids adjust to yet another new school, new friends, and all the emotional ups and downs that come with being the “new kid” again. Add in the logistics—selling or buying a home, packing up your life, coordinating movers, and unpacking it all somewhere unfamiliar—and it can honestly feel like a full-time job. The kind of job that doesn’t come with days off. It’s a lot, and most people outside this lifestyle don’t really see how heavy it can be. What’s the biggest difference in hiring any moving company and what D1.relocation offers? D1.relocation is more than a mover! We offer a full-suite of turnkey relocation services that you might think that you need and some services that you aren’t aware that you’ll need from a single-source. Our goal is to create solutions and efficiencies, through our choice of options We are solely focused on college athletics and work with clients daily to tap into not only our experience but our trusted vendor partners to simplify an otherwise fragmented and underresourced process and the dynamic pace college athletics requires. Working through a single-point of advocacy creates unmeasured value from the fiduciary responsibility to the lifecycle of the relocation process. What are some tips you offer coaching families? Just like in sports it starts with our Moving Playbook, that we provide for families and don’t be shy about asking for the details. Prepare and Schedule in advance. Relocating often becomes urgent and rushed because clients delay starting the process, and it doesn’t have to be that way. However, don’t let the mover ship everything, keep important paperwork (Appraisals, Birth Certificates, Medical & School Records, Real Estate Documents) in your overnight bag as you travel to your new home. Avoid not decluttering, underestimating your needs, and not vetting solutions. The life of a coach's family is extraordinary, filled with incredible highs and unique challenges. No coach's family should have to carry the invisible, overwhelming burden of relocation alone. D1.relocation was built by an empathetic group of leaders in college athletics, who intimately understood the unique challenge of a career in college athletics. We're here to turn what can be the most stressful part of a new job into a confident and truly seamless fresh start - with a teammate you can trust because they’ve experienced it themselves and help hundreds of families do the same! I know you work with specific schools, what if my school isn’t on your list? It’s never too early to begin the planning process of relocation, from pre-decision confidentiality until you’re settled into your new home, for a $249 Advisory Fee we provide end-to-end service and access to our vetted vendor partners. We’d appreciate the opportunity to be your advocate in relocation, to handle the stress and logistics as we have assisted families at partner and non-partner schools with a concierge-level of relocation. Whether it’s a single-service or full-service we’re prepared to give you the competitive advantage. D1.relocation was founded on the core principle to Simplify Your Transition! I have a small budget, are you able to customize this to suit anyone’s budget? Yes! We have nationwide vendor partners that we are proud to provide access to whether it’s a full-service or self-service move - we believe in offering a competitive choice of options for our clients. Oftentimes through our volume backed pricing we can provide best pricing, accommodate preferred dates, all at an unmatched service level.

D1.relocation will act as a dedicated advocate for all new hires at Minnesota Athletics

D1.relocation will act as a dedicated advocate for all new hires at Memphis Athletics

By Ernest Firth, Chief Operating Officer, D1.relocation Landing a new coaching or administrative role in college athletics is an exciting, career-defining moment. The thrill of a new challenge, a new team, and a new community is palpable. But often, that excitement quickly bumps up against the daunting reality of relocation, particularly the true financial expenses involved. Many of our clients are genuinely shocked to learn that a near cross-country move, especially with a family, can cost far more than just a few thousand dollars . At D1.relocation, we frequently speak with coaches and administrators who budget based on past experiences (good & bad), perhaps from relocations earlier in their careers or based on common misconceptions. They're quickly realizing that the landscape of relocation expenses has changed dramatically, and their relocation package often doesn't cover their costs. What once might have been a manageable out-of-pocket expense or a minor line item in a relocation package is now a substantial financial undertaking. What's Driving Up the Cost? The average cost of a cross-country move for a 2-3 bedroom home can range from $7,200 to $11,250 , with some reaching upwards of $17,000 depending on weight, distance, and services. For larger homes (4-5 bedrooms), costs can start at $12,500 and go much higher . These figures are for the moving company alone! And there’s more to relocation than the moving services! Several factors contribute to these rising expenses: Increased Demand & Operational Costs : The moving industry, like many others, has seen increased operational costs due to fuel prices, labor shortages, insurance, and higher demand. This translates directly to higher quotes for transportation. Packing & Specialty Items : While you might handle some boxes yourself, professional packing for an entire household, especially fragile, valuable, or bulky items (like sports equipment, large TVs, or exercise equipment), adds significantly to the bill. Specialty items requiring custom crating can inflate costs further. Full-Service vs. Self-Service Misconceptions : A "few thousand dollars" might cover a small, self-packed move across a state line, but it barely scratches the surface for packing, loading, transporting, and unloading a family's worth of belongings across multiple states. Full-service movers, while offering immense convenience and less risk with insurance coverage, naturally come at a higher price, than just renting a truck. Temporary Living & Travel : The actual moving company bill is just one piece of the puzzle. Factor in temporary housing (which can range from $150 to $450 per night and significantly more for short-term rentals), multiple trips for house hunting, car shipping, flights, meals on the road, and time off work. These "hidden" costs, often underestimated, add up rapidly; while being taxable expenses. Real Estate Transaction Costs : If you're buying or selling a home, closing costs, realtor commissions (often 2.5% per agent, amounting to thousands on a typical home sale), appraisal fees, and potential repair costs can easily run into tens of thousands of dollars, often overshadowing the moving services bill. Setting Up New Services : Don't forget the immediate costs of setting up utilities, internet, and other home services in your new city – sometimes with connection fees or deposits. Miscellaneous expenses like new driver's licenses, pet registration, or even school enrollment fees for children also contribute. Why This Matters for You (and Your Athletic Department) For the individual coach or administrator , being blindsided by relocation costs can create immense financial strain and added stress on time when you need to be entirely focused on your new role. It can turn a dream job into an unexpected financial burden. Understanding and planning for these expenses is critical. Working with D1.relocation ensures your new hires have the necessary support and personalized services for their transitions! For athletic departments , understanding these realities is crucial for attracting and retaining top talent. Recent data shows that companies continue to invest in employee relocation, recognizing it as a valuable investment in talent recruitment and retention. Providing a comprehensive relocation package and partner isn't just a perk; it's a strategic investment in operational efficiency that allows your new hire to hit the ground running, rather than managing a personal financial crisis or experiencing a financial shortfall. First Impressions matter! D1.relocation: Your Financial Advocate in Relocation At D1.relocation, we are not a moving company; we are your partners in relocation with a network of real estate solutions, moving services, car shipping, mortgage lending, and financial planning. Our role is to provide a comprehensive concierge service that brings transparency to these costs, beginning with strategizing all phases of your relocation, vetting solutions within our network, and manages every detail to Simplify Your Transition . With our oversight and support D1.relocation coordinate logistics, identify efficient solutions, and anticipate expenses so you're not caught off guard. Our aim is to alleviate this stress on both time and finances, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: your family and your new team. Understanding the true cost of relocation is the first step toward Simplifying Your Transition. Let D1.relocation be your teammate to help you navigate these complexities, ensuring your next move is your best move. Our D1.relocation Specialists will be happy to assist you with any questions! Click Here to get started.