"Many of us are on the same page with the way we feel, but are terrified to express the way we feel. Coach Hannah is the queen of grudges and if you disagree with her or ask any questions you are in the dog house. The pressure to win this fall took away the fun of the game for me. I knew what I signed up for, and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy and I was ready for that. What I didn’t know is that I would question my love for playing a game I’ve loved since a little girl. I hope Coach Hannah grows up and understands that the world does not revolve around her and her success "

"As a current member of the team, I feel it’s important to share an honest perspective on the environment being created. In my experience, Coach Hannah leads through fear rather than trust. There is a constant pressure to perform, and many of us feel uncomfortable speaking up because of concern about retaliation or being treated differently. There have been situations where players are discussed inappropriately in meetings, which creates tension and distrust within the team. The culture often feels more focused on appearances than growth — our social media presence portrays a fun, positive environment, but behind the scenes it often feels forced and driven by concern over image rather than team well-being. There is also an overwhelming emphasis on outcomes, particularly being “Big South champs,” rather than focusing on daily development and the process it takes to get there. This creates unnecessary pressure and anxiety, especially when what many of us need is steadier leadership and support. At times, it feels like personal insecurities are projected onto the team, which impacts morale. Many of us wish the approach were calmer, more transparent, and more focused on growth rather than control. There is a lot of potential here, but it would benefit greatly from a shift toward trust, communication, and true leadership. "

"After spending a few seasons playing for Hannah I feel I need to share my honest experience. The cherry on top of my decision to transfer was witnessing how she spoke negatively about my teammate who chose to transfer. That moment, along with several others, showed me a pattern of behavior that I could no longer be a part of. Hannah often displayed manipulative and condescending tendencies at practice, in film, and in meetings. If another teammate disagreed with her or challenged her perspective, she tended to hold a grudge rather than foster open dialogue. I became scared to meet with her or offer any feedback. For example, in a film session one of our captains respectfully asked if we could try a different offensive set, and Hannah became visibly upset and did not respond. Instead, the offense we ran was largely recycled from her time as a player at Central Michigan, with little room for innovation. I was hoping to grow more as a player but found myself stagnant. On the field, she frequently played mind games, creating unnecessary pressure instead of building confidence. I started to feel very anxious before games instead of prepared, especially when she was fighting for the head coaching job. She seemed more focused on how the program was perceived externally than on the development and well-being of her players. Her approach to the draw especially was obsessive yet inconsistent, and she often prepared us mentally for losses rather than instilling belief that we could win. When we would win draws, it was because of two of us communicating with one another. I really feel hurt and am sad I ended in the way that I did but I am hopeful for change. It became very clear the athletic department doesn't care about winning, just that we have fun. We had neither. Looking ahead, I worry about the program’s trajectory. Based on what I observed at clinics, Hannah recruits athletes with limited Division I opportunities and does not prioritize elevating the program through strong recruiting classes. I fear Winthrop Lacrosse will steadily decline once her own recruits become the core of the roster, because the current team are not her players. I hope future players go into the program with eyes open and consider carefully whether this is the environment where they will thrive. "

"As a student-athlete, I came into this program with high hopes..to grow, compete, and be part of a team that valued both development and integrity. Unfortunately, my experience under Hannah was not that and her true colors showed once I decided to leave. I thought that I was going to be supported but I was not. From the start, communication was inconsistent and often manipulative. I was told I would be advocated for and supported in my athletic journey, only to later find out the coach had spoken poorly about me to other coaches, something that was not only hurtful but damaging to my future. This kind of behavior is especially concerning coming from someone at the beginning of their coaching career, as it reflects a serious lack of professionalism and integrity. I was never given a clear or honest evaluation of what I needed to improve, and the feedback I did receive often contradicted itself or felt like mind games. Favoritism was also evident throughout the program, and it created a toxic environment that made it hard for many of us to trust or grow. Ultimately, I made the decision to transfer, along with other teammates, starters, because we knew we deserved better. A coach should build up their players, not tear them down behind closed doors. I wish I had felt the support I deserved, along with my teammates. "

"I have had a handful of college coaches come and go during my years playing lacrosse, and I can say that I am so happy that I got to be coached by Coach Hannah. Out of the 5 coaches I have had experience with, the best experience came out of playing under Hannah. She is real, honest, passionate, and not only elevates her players on the field within their game but also elevates her players as humans off of the field. She is the best coach I have ever had and I am so grateful that I got to grow as a player and as a person with her as a leader. She is so dedicated to the game and coaching and it shows. She puts everything she has into coaching and it is so refreshing to see and I am so excited that she was given the Head Coach position at Winthrop. This is very deserved and I cannot wait to see her continue to grow this program. Even as the interim head coach, the changes that were seen throughout her first “official” season as the head coach before she was offered the full time position made it clear that she was beyond capable of leading a team to success. Any player should count themselves lucky if they get the chance to have her as their coach. "

"So glad Hannah was given the official Head Coach title given the immense improvement from last season! She is beyond deserving of this position as she cares so much for her players and her excitement for her players successes truly shows. She really knows how to motivate each and every one of us and betters us not only as athletes but off the field as well. This is such an exciting new chapter for Winthrop and there is no better coach to take it on! "

"Hannah Potter is an incredible coach and an incredible person. I would be lucky for my kids to be coached by someone like Hannah. Nowadays, there are so many people who lie and drag others down to heal their own insecurities. But not Hannah. Hannah Potter is a wonderful coach and unfortunately, others want to dampen her success. Hannah is one of the best coaches in the business. Her career as a Division 1 athlete and travel lacrosse coach speaks to that fact. "

"Coach Hannah is and always has been an extremely passionate player and coach that cares deeply about her job and her players."

"Coach Hannah became the interim head coach this past fall, and has made her players lives revolve around her attempting to solidify the head coaching job. Her insecurities with her lack of coaching experience can be seen by her talking down to those around her, especially those she sees as a threat to her. You better not give her any feedback as a player or else she will hold a grudge against you. As a Winthrop alum, I have witnessed Hannah’s ego first hand. She is extremely entitled and coaches to be in control, not because she is passionate about her players. She also does not get along with fellow coaching staff members, especially women. The team culture is promising but this was already established prior to her arrival. She will benefit from learning under an experienced leader who puts her in her place and shows her humility "