"As a mom, writing this is my duty to warn other parents, players, and travel coaches before another young woman has her spirit broken by this program. During the recruitment tour, this coaching staff plays the part of supportive leaders. They look families in the eye and promise a healthy environment focused on education, team memories, and fair opportunities. It is a complete bait-and-switch. The head coach simply manipulates families to stockpile an oversized roster for injury insurance, and once he chooses his favorite 12 players, the rest are completely discarded. This program actively punishes high-IQ athletes who truly understand softball, because knowledgeable players threaten the head coach's ego. His daily practices offer zero preparation for actual game scenarios; watching them is like watching a t-ball or recreation baseball practice. He treats his bench players with calculated psychological cruelty, purposely setting them up for failure to keep them down and make them feel inadequate. There are only about two or three truly competitive teams in the Skyline Conference. The coach plays his favorites against all the weak, easy teams just to pad their stats and make his choices look good. Then, when the team faces top-tier conference opponents like Farmingdale State or Manhattanville, he intentionally pulls players off the bench who haven't seen a live game situation in over a month. He throws them completely cold into these high-pressure, difficult games and expects absolute perfection. When they predictably struggle—because softball is a game of adjustments and no player can perform without live reps—he uses it to validate his bias. He proceeds to aggressively tell these dedicated girls that they "suck" and that it is their fault they don't play, explicitly staging the entire scenario to break their confidence. Elite, proven players are told they "suck" and that he can't make them stars, when the truth is he never gives them a fair, realistic chance. I have horror story's from this coach and with one of the assistant coaches, I'm not going to go into detail about it to protect my daughter identity, but the fact that the athletic director knows what's going on behind the scenes between players and these coaches and how he treats these players and that these coaches are still employed shows a sickening lack of institutional accountability. Travel coaches, please stop sending your talented players here. Parents and players, run the other way. I sincerely hope the NCAA opens a thorough investigation into this coaching staff, because what is happening behind closed doors is absolute abuse. yes my daughter did confirm, he doesn't watch the pitchers warm up during practices or before games. in fact, she said "he just picks the pitcher he likes the most and tells her to warm up before games; no one watches the pitchers ever . We even had one pitcher who stopped practicing because she just accepted, she will never get playing time and no one cared to watch her progress, and she was really good". HE DOESNT EVEN WATCH ANY OF THE PITCHER WARM UP DURING PRACTICE OR BEOFRE GAMES HOW ON EARTH DOES HE KNOWS WHO LOOKS GOOD AND DOESNT? HOW DOES HE KNOW WHAT PITCHES TO CALL? and my daughter also confirm he does get drunk down at the Florida trips, he does show up to the team's house intoxicated and he does smoke a lot of weed before games and practices. So, if the players are seeing it and the parents are seeing it I don't understand how he's still a coach. "

" As a former player with high-level softball experience, I chose this program based on big promises regarding playing time and a supportive environment. Unfortunately, those turned out to be completely empty promises. The leadership here lacks a basic understanding of the game, exhibits highly alarming behavioral issues, and quickly drains your passion for the sport. Severe Professional Misconduct: -Substance Abuse During Trips/Games: The head coach has a known pattern of showing up to team games high, as well as arriving at players' housing during travel trips drunk and high. -Aggressive Verbal Threats: Coach Tom uses extreme intimidation, including calling players during off-hours to issue hostile verbal threats. He uses personal information to belittle and threaten athletes, showing no hesitation when verbally abusing non-favorite players. -Targeted Hostility: Players and families who question his methods or decide to exit the program have been personally threatened and harassed by this coach and retaliated by the team due to encouragement by the coaching staff. Key Issues with Coaching & Strategy: -Lack of Softball Knowledge: The coach relies strictly on baseball logic and lacks a fundamental understanding of softball strategy, base running, bunting, pitch sequencing, spin locations, fielding, and batting strategies. -Roster Mismanagement: He ignores team depth and refuses to watch pitchers warm up, relying heavily on a few favorites while leaving talented bench players to sit without development. -Poor Player Preparation: Players are suddenly thrown into games after months of seeing no live pitching, fielding, or mound time, completely setting them up for failure. Key Issues with Team Culture: -Blame Culture: Coaches refuses to take accountability for tactical mistakes, choosing instead to scream at players and actively cause teammates to turn on each other. -Mind Games: Positions and playing time are used as psychological threats rather than being earned through merit or performance. -Hostile Departures: Players who decide to leave the program are met with retaliation, targeted bullying, and hostile communication that even extends to their families. A Positive Note: The one true positive of my experience was my teammates. They are incredibly talented athletes and genuinely good people who understand the game far better than the head coach. Any frustration, division, or peer bullying within the team was a direct result of the coach shifting blame for losses onto us and encouraging hostility. While I experienced bullying from some players, I do not believe that reflects their true character, but rather the toxic environment that the coaching staff fostered. This roster is capable of great things and would completely thrive under a positive leader who supports athletes instead of manipulating them. Conclusion: When I was researching this coach at the time when I was trying to make a decision between three other schools, there were zero reviews available. This lack of information heavily influenced my decision to commit, as I expected a fun and relaxed softball experience since this is one of the lowest D3 conferences. Now that other players and parents are speaking out, I want to confirm that these negative experiences are 100% accurate. If these reviews had existed when I was looking, I absolutely would have chosen a different university. Do not waste your talent, your time, or your mental health on this program. Look elsewhere. "

"Doesn’t know how to win the big games! Coach is like Dr jeckle Mr Hyde. Never know who you’re going to get. Bipolar, narcissistic. Invites girls on his boat. To his house. And when every year in florida. Always showing up at the players house high and drunk. Needs to grow up. Period. Lost it after a game which got him suspended this past year !! More interested these days with his travel team he has which knows about his past and never leaves him alone with those girls. Be careful do your research with this guy. "

"His coaching style has not been good. Very bad toward the girls if he doesn’t get his way. More interested in winning for himself than anything else. He has terrible in game strategy. Only plays girls that kiss up to him and doesn’t know how to pick players for the school. Bad character one stop lumber in brooklyn ny creates bad chemistry he doesn’t care. Plays girls who don’t deserve to. Never giving others a full chance to Show what you can do. Running schools program to the ground. Been suspended a couple of times already. Once a couple of years ago where player charged coach of sleeping with her. School did nothing. This past year suspended due to treatment of girls after the game. Was terrifying toward each player cursing and up in their personal space. Telling them how they suck and saying to them you are making me look bad. All about Tommy. Wait crazy Tommy is his nickname. Now I know why. His coaching staff is terrible. No teaching doesn’t know how to no caring. Playing mind games with players. This coaching staff needs to be fired. They don’t teach and create environment that’s very bad among players. They fight among each other taking on his personality which loves drama. Players know who should be playing and who not. He plays lower level girls & keeps better skilled and talented ones on the bench. Looks at times they are high and drunk coaching. No wonder why coaching in game is terrible. Stay far away from this coach and coaching staff. He and staff needs to grow up. Old westbury needs to get rid of all of the softball coaches. Danger is could set them back 5 years if they keep them going forward. After how they behave. Highly recommend future prospects stay away from this softball program. "