"Claiming he was fostering a competitive environment, but only created an uncomfortable, anxiety filled, and damaging environment, ruining many swimmers love for the sport, including mine. I was consistently put down by him and the team he created. He does not treat his men and woman’s teams equally, favoring the men’s heavily, practices catered towards the men’s team only. He has a very large ego which causes his to be blind to the mistakes me has made and refuses to fix them. Smith claims to support athletes with mental heath issues, but only has punished them by removing them from travel meets and from practices. He does not support individual athletes, unless favored by him, at all. His coaching style was average at best, little knowledge on new techniques. Only looked to increase physical strength rather than improve technique in order to improve times. Often blames the athlete for not improving instead of looking at what he could change for practices to cater to their needs."
"Only cares about himself and his reputation. Cares for men's team more than women's team since they are like his "sons" because he recruited the first group of men when they were reinstated and treats the women with disrespect unless they are his puppet and don't do anything wrong. He says failing is a part of life, but you can't fail when it is under his watch or time or energy. Does not communicate news or update in a timely manner and expects everyone to be on time for things / remember his 5 page emails word for word. He also says beginning of every year that the team as a whole will work on starts with each other / with the coaches once a week, that does not happen until 3 days before team departs for conference. Just saying, don't swim or dive under him unless you can win conference. "
"For starters, he is so awkward to be around you become uncomfortable. He has no real knowledge of swimming or diving. Always brags about his worldly knowledge of things such as “nutrition, mental health, or equality,” but in fact has no real knowledge on the topics. Has different relationships between men and women on the team, and men are often referred to as his “sons,” and women are too emotional. The pressure he puts on his athletes to preform is unimaginable and when you show a sliver of “weakness” he preys on you. Would never ever recommend him to anyone. Made me completely lose my love for the sport….Run"
"If this man is your coach you should probably transfer. He has a massive Napoleon complex and lacks the ability to lead a division 1 program. He has the brain intelligence of a 6 year old boy and although he brags about his expertise, he shows no experience in dealing with the physical, emotional and mental health of his athletes."
"Brad Smith has the intelligence of a fully grown, if that, squirrel. He has a horrible case of Napeolan's Complex and can't let the fact that he is an angry little man go. A golden retriever could do a better job of managing a d1 team. "
"This man is the worst coach I have ever experienced in my entire life. My love for swimming went completely away once this man began coaching me. I was a student athlete struggling with my mental health and I reached out to him for help, and he told me to quit and get a therapist! He is unqualified, unintelligent, rude. "
"A handful of lucky people find swimming success under this coach, but most people will only see "college bests" at most or end their careers not seeing any favorable times. Has very little knowledge of what it takes to be a coach at the D1 level, and he demands respect instead of earning it. If you can learn how to work around him, he is bearable. "
"Brad has good intentions but doesn't have the intelligence to follow up on them. He is a solid swim coach but is awkward to be around to the point where people try to avoid him at all costs. He has lied to people about receiving scholarship money and is so focused on being loved by the team that he does not want to be their coach. Unliked by team."
"Has no idea what he is doing. Only cares about the team as a whole and winning meets. Has no individual connection unless you are one of his favorites. Does not listen to anything his athletes have to say. Rather than fixing problems, most of the time he makes them worse. Blames others for his mistakes and can never take responsibility for his own."
"Has absolutely zero idea how to run a team. Can not remember times or events at all. Was very frustrated with his coaching etiquette the entire time. Don't expect to improve."
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