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"Coach Josh Laux exemplifies everything a student-athlete and family should look for in a college soccer coach. His commitment to developing young men both on and off the field is second to none. He has built a culture of excellence, accountability, discipline, and family while consistently helping players reach their full potential as athletes, students, and leaders. His tactical knowledge of the game, ability to build meaningful relationships with his players, and dedication to their long-term success make him one of the most respected coaches in college soccer. One of the most important things parents and players can understand when entering the college recruiting process is that collegiate athletics are different from youth sports. Playing time, opportunities, and roles within the team are earned through dedication, work ethic, attitude, and performance. Coach Laux has created an environment where every player is held to a high standard and is expected to earn their place through commitment and continuous improvement. That culture not only develops better soccer players, but better young men. If you are looking for a program with a structured team culture, a winning mentality on and off the field, and a coaching staff that emphasizes accountability, persistent dedication, and measurable growth, Randolph-Macon is a tremendous choice. Coach Laux has established an outstanding soccer reputation while leading a program at a college that is equally respected for its exceptional academic reputation. Any player who has the opportunity to compete under Coach Laux will benefit from a program that prioritizes character, hard work, achievement, and preparation for success long after their playing career is over."

"As the recruiting process is often hard to navigate and know what is being used to lure your athlete to a university, Valerie Clarke may have told/will tell your athlete the following (so if you have heard it… consider it a red flag): “You will make an immediate impact on the team” - then does not play “I don’t have kids, so these are my “kids”- this is a hard no, and quite disturbing- a dog person… not a people person “Ask for money, you will get an increase” - without understanding an athletic budget or needs versus wants and basic economic principles, empty promises “I have 2 conference championships” - giving no credit to the athletes, who later transferred, they knew more about hockey than her and coached themselves- The student athletes have 2 championships…kudos to them While there, your athlete might hear: “You’re not confident” - when people ask about their lack of playing time “If you stay I will personally dig into my own funds” - making empty promises and violating NCAA policy (also out of touch with those without a trust fund) “I care about mental health” - then really doesn’t because she herself needs support, which is often hard to help others when not receiving the necessary support she may need Questions you should ask before your athlete considers and before entering any agreement with her: “What has been your team retention rate in the past?” (The track record here is alarming- lots of transferring due to her lack of game knowledge, favoring certain individuals, specifically those from foreign countries, allowable bullying) -please note that athletes have to uphold the promise to promote the university and cannot tell the actual truth “Have you ever been investigated in your previous position?” - the answer is yes - at least twice, and then fired before her time was up at the previous school(violating policy) “What is your strategic plan for the team” - the game is too complicated for her, she really doesn’t understand field hockey, so there is not one (her sister reviews film for her and tries to figure it out, but both present as unathletic) “What specific/ specialized training will I get for my position” - none, players share drills “What specialized training did you receive for mental and emotional wellness” - maybe watched a mandated video - profoundly limited “What is your strategic plan for year 1,2,3?” - probably to remain employed “What is your emphasis on student success?” She has a knack for making comments about intelligence, but bless her heart (enter southern sarcasm) The recommendation would be to meet with the AD of the university who is a former football player and likely has little knowledge about field hockey. He’s a hype-man, so he will act like she’s great, but not actually know who she is/what her patterns of behavior are. He had to make a quick hire. He needs to become educated QUICKLY. He is there to promote the programs and will do so because he is an alumni, but buyers beware, duped! It’s kind of like a priest that is being investigated and quickly is relocated to a new church to hide and pretend lie things never happened. What you’ve done never really disappears, and word travels fast. People look at DI and think of the “bragging rights”, however it is a bottom tier program that needs a knowledgeable coach to help build. There is also conversation in the field hockey community that the team will be removed due to finances. LHU is part of a trio of universities that is now “commonwealth university” because of clear financial strain on the state system and these specific schools. There are plenty of other good hockey schools in that region, that is not one of them, and with the current staffing change it will only become more bleak. She’ll tell you she needed a change, but the truth is that she was running out of options and was let go anyway. Patterns are patterns… be on the lookout. "

"He Is not the coach if you are looking to improve your golf game or have an enjoyable college experience "

"Was knowledgeable and had some good ideas but that's it. He gossiped about his players to other players. He invited some of his players to watch games at his house but not others. Playing time was given to players that would sit and talk with him in his office and not always to players who performed well on the pitch. The team did not get along because team bonding was non existent and that is a huge reason why we couldn't win. Poor coaching decisions. He was verbally abusive to some players and had weird personal relationships with others. Team culture was terrible and full of drama. He would not treat players equally and punished them differently according to who they were. We were not allowed to call him "coach" or "sir" which erases the fine line between a superior and a buddy. He was extremely fake. It felt like he was a high school girl instead of a coach. He ruined my college experience, along with many others. A coach should be encouraging, honest, treat everyone equal, and base playing time off of performance. A coach should NEVER invite student-athletes alone to his house or gossip about them."

"There was never a question of where my son was going to play college lacrosse. It was to play for Jesse Foss at Concordia University Irvine. I firmly believe that without Coach Foss - my son would not have returned to play his sophomore year as he struggled academically as a freshman. It was Coach Foss’ influence as a leader and mentor that pushed my son to the limit on and off the field. Long story short - my son graduated 4 years later with a 3.25 GPA, he was a Captain his senior year and now successfully navigating a future and career with previous Concordia lacrosse players. You see - it was the camaraderie that Coach Foss established that led to our son now working closely with previous teammates. There is a sense of drive and determination that we see in our son that did not exist before his Concordia Irvine lacrosse experience. This team continually improved its roster, standings and outcomes every single year. Winning the DIII Club championship over schools like Georgia Tech and Liberty to winning RMAC in 2026. He never stopped believing in the full potential of our son and his entire team. I would recommend Jesse Foss to lead any D1 or D2 lacrosse program. I only hope that some day I can return the favor to Coach Foss. "