"As a parent, I felt compelled to share our experience with the RMU women's lacrosse program and Coach Grove’s staff. It’s important to understand the context of the program over the past few years. When Coach Grove took over, many of the players on the roster were not originally recruited by her staff. From our perspective, there were also some strong personalities and a sense of entitlement among certain upperclassmen that created challenges within the team culture. As a first-time Division I head coach, she was working to establish herself while also managing those dynamics. At times, it seemed like she was trying not to disrupt team chemistry too abruptly, even when younger players may have been outperforming veterans. Our experience with the coaching staff has been very positive. Are they perfect when it comes to in-game adjustments or game planning? No, but that’s not the full picture of what a college program should be judged on. What stands out to us is how much they invest in player development off the field. My daughter has grown tremendously not just as an athlete, but as a more confident and resilient person. There was also some roster turnover this past year, which from our understanding was tied to team culture issues, including behavior that crossed the line into bullying. While narratives may differ depending on who you ask, we believe it’s important to recognize that accountability goes both ways, and not all departures tell the full story. It’s also worth noting the direction the program is heading. This year’s freshman class made an immediate impact, with four players earning all-conference freshman honors. That speaks to the staff’s recruiting and the future of the program. One of the biggest takeaways for us as parents is the reality of college athletics. Playing time is not guaranteed, and expectations don’t always match reality. Many athletes were stars in high school, but the Division I level is faster, more physical, and far more competitive. Coaches see what happens every day in practice and ultimately make decisions they believe give the team the best chance to succeed. Our experience with this program and coaching staff has been a positive one, and we believe they are building something meaningful at RMU."