College Athletic Staff Rating: Ronda Varnesdeel at Davenport University

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Not A Good Person And Used Her Position To Bully Me

Date: November 14, 2025

By Athlete

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

"Ronda actively recruited me to say negative things about my coach. A decision I regret doing. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Rude, Arrogant, Mean, Unprofessional, Gossip, Favoritism, Evil

Date: November 12, 2025

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"You all weren’t lying. This woman is Nasty. Rude and condescending. She tries to belittle women every chance she gets. It’s absurd someone this UNPROFESSIONAL is an athletic director. I could write a book about the unprofessional things this woman does and clearly gets away with. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Get Where The World Is Going! To Hell!

Date: November 10, 2025

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Embarrassing to have ever held the title SENIOR WOMAN ADMINISTRATOR. Ronda hates the majority of women she crosses paths with and would rather hire middle age men so she feels better about herself. Little does she know that they all talk behind her back. Every woman or man she has hired that doesn’t act like she walks on water becomes the departments target and is gossiped about. Very professional athletic department. Ronda uses her power to hold money and promotion over employees heads to get them to push her agenda, keep their mouth shut or literally target other employees. She does the same with student athletes and scholarship money. Ronda also gets to teach at this school because you know she just needs more money. Besides from being an athletic director, she also dabbles in coaching other teams which she isn’t very good at. Ronda encourages employees to engage in inappropriate relationships with students. She believes it’s not a big deal for coaches at the school to drink with students on athletic teams. I’ve seen emails that she openly praised a basketball coach after he was caught sleeping with one of his players. She thinks it’s no big deal for student athletes that golf to drink all day at the course and then drive back to the school intoxicated. Many baseball and football players have gotten away with credit card fraud and selling fake ID’s. A football player dated an employee on staff. The baseball coach seems like a pretty terrible person that cheats. You have his players running from the police and facing zero accountability. I would not be proud to send any of my kids to this terrible school. WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS ALL TEACHING KIDS?? TO BE A TERRIBLE HUMAN gets you ahead. Get where the world is going- to hell! "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Your Voice Matters. Glad Someone Is Finally Telling The Truth About Ronda And The Hell She Will Put You And Your Family Through.

Date: November 9, 2025

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Not sure how many employees have to face the wrath of this angry woman and not sure how many employees have to complain about you. So far we are in double digits. That’s pretty sad. Truly a rotten human being. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Should Be A National News Story. Cheaters

Date: November 3, 2025

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Imagine a full time employee discovers the baseball team, coaches and administrators are covering up playing 14 ineligible players and trying to fire that employee for the discovery. Literally sickening right "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

If Zero Stars Was A Possibility That’s What This Great Ha Horrible “Leader” Should Get.

Date: November 2, 2025

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Double standards for all female coaches and teams. How shocking is it they had to replace almost every female head coach with a male. Hmmm. The only teams that win here all CHEAT. Male coaches have the power to do whatever they want. Females must act as little ladies and fall in line or else. I suspect cheating is already occurring with new male coaches as I’ve heard from multiple moms on a team that scholarship increases are already being “promised” for next year and coaches are already in discussion with athletes at other institutions. Really ethical! Buckle up and grab your popcorn. Hard to play everyone on these huge rosters that are being created. No division 2 team should have 50 players on it. Should have stayed NAIA where all you did was cheat 24/7 to win. Can’t make the cheating toooooo obvious now. Amazing how so many people are in on it though. Like. Hmm the 14 baseball players that played ineligible. How on earth did we cover that one up. Oh yeah you all tried to fire the compliance person that discovered it. Literally pushed the person out. Honestly the most shameful athletic department. You should no longer be part of the NCAA. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Imagine Being An Infielder Playing Outfield. Oh My. How Horrible. You Both Deserve To Be Looked Into

Date: November 2, 2025

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"I hope Ronda didn’t watch the World Series. Both teams had players playing different positions. Imagine that! They both will tell you - WELL. Baseball is different. NO ITS NOT. I’m so glad my daughter doesn’t go to Davenport University anymore. Watching you treat people that had nothing but good intentions like garbage is a KARMA I hope carries with you."

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Terrible Administration If You Don’t Know Players Can Switch Positions

Date: November 1, 2025

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"My daughter told me you said it was a demotion to go from the infield to the outfield. What is wrong with you and the athletic department at Davenport. Many players switch positions. I can’t believe these comments are made at the college level. It’s sickening how low of knowledge you all must have. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Maybe The Money Went Right Into Your Bank Account

Date: October 28, 2025

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"I overheard at Elite that you cut the softball budget $30,000 before they started their season last year. Bet that money is back in the softball budget now. Baseball needed to be covered I’m guessing. I hope someone who knows about this goes to the news. It would be a national story. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Davenport Softball Is Full Of Bullies. Shame On You

Date: October 26, 2025

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Ronda is a manipulative bully. She allowed the Davenport softball team to bully players off the team and she rewarded it. She has no business ever being around student athletes again. Your mean girl middle school tactics have no business in college softball. The kids that transferred are much better off not being lied and manipulated by their own athletic director who they thought was on their side. Shame on you. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Terrible Athletic Administration From Top To Bottom. It’s Been Happening For 10 Plus Years Now

Date: October 23, 2025

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"There’s documentation of Ronda and her friend attempting to bully previous golf coach. She stood up for herself though, something these weak, small minded women don’t like. They both have slandered this coaches name and reputation. HR is aware of what these toxic individuals do to people that stand up to them. She was forced out and is the nicest and best golf coach out there. She had integrity and great character. If you are professional and display ethical leadership you will be on the hit list for this athletic administration. I’ve seen this movie over and over again. If you’re a coach that values your career and reputation think twice about coaching here. I learned the hard way 10 years ago. Sad to see it still occurring. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

She Is The Biggest Bully I’ve Ever Met

Date: October 18, 2025

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"You are the definition of a bully. I see it happen. Every single day."

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

They Are Holding Student Athletes Accountable But It Should Start Here

Date: October 13, 2025

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Ronda is the worst communicator of any boss I’ve ever had. She must get the most paid time off of any employee at the University. She constantly cancels meetings and quite frankly doesn’t do her job. She is beyond frustrating to work for. I fear for my job writing this post but it’s the truth. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

If You Are Around Her For 5 Minutes You Will See She Is Toxic

Date: October 3, 2025

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"One of the worst coaches and people I’ve ever let my daughter be around. Truly a rotten human being. It’s hard to expect kids to act any different when someone in a leadership role gossips, lies and is involved in inappropriate behavior. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Would Rather Talk To An 18 Year Old To Feel “Cool”

Date: September 29, 2025

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Levels of professionalism for her are at an all time low. Imagine texting and calling an 18 year old athlete instead of communicating with the coach. When my daughter told me this was happening I couldn’t believe it. Very weird things happening at DU."

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

An Ad Allowed To Teach Student Athletes Seems Like A Conflict Of Interest. How Much More Money Do You Need?

Date: September 24, 2025

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Unprofessionalism at its finest. Gossip, inappropriate relationships with student athletes. Imagine your athletic director calling a freshman to get the tea. I was shocked when my daughter told me this. Being a parent of an athlete I’ve found a lot of what Ronda Varnesdeel has done to be embarrassingly unprofessional. Anyone that engages in basic interaction with this lady will quickly figure out she’s a narcissist. My concerns started to grow when it was discovered that Ronda allowed a softball player to keep engaging in a sexual relationship with her basketball coach. It was almost like she applauded the young girl for doing this. Not having any accountability or holding anyone to a standard creates a culture of toxicity. I’m not up to date with current drama at this school but I have years of experience to tell you it was a mistake having my daughter go here. It sure does seem like Ronda squeezes every ounce of money she can get from this school. Always doing everything but her own job to make more and more and more. Why do you need more money? I thought your trailer in the trailer park sold. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Davenport University Has Zero Integrity. They Lie, They Cheat, They Cover It Up. Send Reporters There & Undercover Years Of Fraudulent Activity

Date: September 21, 2025

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Ronda has been abusing university funds since being a coach and now it’s even worse as an administrator. Many coaches and individuals at Davenport ABUSE funds for PERSONAL BENEFIT. This is covered up by the business manager. Baseball absolutely abuses the system. The Executive Director is aware as he abuses funds for personal benefit as well. He also uses money allocated for other things as a slush fund - giving it to programs - like football - when that is not what the money is attended for. If someone did a deep dive into the school they would undercover years of FRAUD and misuse of money. Every Athletic Administrator is aware that Baseball played ineligible players throughout a season they won a championship. What do you think they did about it. THEY COVERED IT UP. This Univeristy has zero integrity and values and I think it’s time the NCAA did an investigation into the baseball program for blatant CHEATING and disregard for rules. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Davenport University Would Make A Great Espn Story About Scandal, Corruption And How They Pay For Silence And Cooperation.

Date: September 19, 2025

By Athlete

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"The unprofessionalism at Davenport is off the chain. I spent one year at Davenport and can tell you it’s the most insane place I’ve ever been. It’s crap like this that they normalize and manipulate the students into believing it’s acceptable and normal behavior. IT IS NOT NORMAL BEHAVIOR. It’s unacceptable at 99.8 % of schools around the country. I chose to leave DU because of how TOXIC the athletic department is. They normalize employees drinking and going to bars with students. It’s ODD. They normalize the most inappropriate, unprofessional, insane behavior from coaches, trainers and staff. They silence students and staff with MONEY. Ronda literally BUYS loyalty from both her staff and students. It’s disgusting. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

A Parent’s Worst Nightmare Sending Their Children To Davenport Athletics. If You’re Any Good At Volley Save Your Time And Go To Fsu

Date: September 17, 2025

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"My daughter played volleyball at DU and I can’t believe the ethics and leadership of your athletic programs. Essentially anyone sending their children to Davenport University are sending them to predators. Manipulating 18 year olds to believe their lives are better engaging in potentially life changing and threatening activities with zero accountability to anyone is horrid. A parent’s worst nightmare sending their children here. Lying is not good and being entitled is not good. It is a complete shame to society that people in charge of impressionable students preach and tolerate such terrible morals."

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Not Sure There’s Any Integrity Or Standards At Davenport University

Date: September 17, 2025

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"My daughter was considering coming to Davenport to play Volleyball. Her club coach told us that the current head coach would drink with players as an assistant and that the athletic administration rewarded that behavior. I was and still am so taken back that this is what is happening in a college program. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

What Is Being Allowed At This College Is Unsettling.

Date: September 8, 2025

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"As a parent of a member of the swimming and diving team I can attest to much of what has been said about not only Ronda but the athletic administration. I expressed concerns on how the coaching staff allows student athletes to participate in partying on their spring break trip. It seems to have fallen on deaf ears as most behavior like this has. Recently I saw that the baseball team had athletes arrested from running from the police on their spring break trip. This all saddens me very much. As a parent to have such weak leaders at the division 2 level that let student athletes continually party and drink to the point of arrests is unsettling. Someone in the athletic administration needs to be held accountable for allowing this continued bad behavior. It’s a bad look for every member at the college. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

An Athletic Department You Want To Stay, Run, Walk, Crawl Away From

Date: September 8, 2025

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"Davenport became a joke the moment every athletic administrator had their children step on campus and join athletic teams. Ultimate conflict of interest that is continually being exploited. My son transferred to Ferris and I can promise you that there’s many other schools that aren’t as corrupt. Davenport is a school they should put on a reality tv show. The amount of money that is thrown away by this school is appalling. It seems many are more are interested in getting 2 or 3 sweat suits and gear than actually showing any true passion for their sport. My son experienced a toxic party culture, vandalism, hazing, credit card schemes and grown adult boys urinating in elevators. It’s really not funny what the administration allows student athletes to get away with. Standards are low but no one seems to care bc they are all too busy getting their pockets greased. If you’re looking to go to school here good luck to you. My guess is you will ultimately regret not only the poor culture but the outrageous tuition prices. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Strange Woman To Interact And Work With. Corrupt Should Be Her Middle Name

Date: August 23, 2025

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"I worked at Davenport for one year and can tell you some things: Corrupt Disturbing relationships Silence is rewarded with a pay day Zero accountability for both athletes and certain staff Leadership in relationships with coaches Money scandals Player scandals Gross misuse of funds by athletic department Very toxic place. I now work at Northwood and it’s night and day better in every single possible way. Not having to work with a jealous, manipulative boss is an upgrade. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Mocking Lgbt Isn’t Something That Should Be Taken Lightly.

Date: August 10, 2025

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"As an employee at Davenport I thought it was appropriate to share my encounter with Ronda talking negatively about a female coach in the athletic department. She called this coach embarrassing for her rainbow flag attire and pride. I thought this was odd for an administrator to say but I also found it odd as she seems to generally be supportive of LGBT. I’m not sure what she was getting at making these comments but they made me uncomfortable and also feel bad for everyone she talks negatively about… behind their back. I would be careful if you plan to have a relationship with her as this seems to be a reoccurring experience. "

0

Women's Softball

Ronda Varnesdeel

Associate Director of Athletics

Davenport University

NCAA DII • Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | GLIAC

Davenport Football Cover Up

Date: August 6, 2025

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Dedicated To Players Creates A Great Team Culture

"1. Full time employee in relationship with DU’s star football player. 2. Ronda covered it up and did not do one thing about it. 3. Coaching staff and athletic trainers all aware of this incident. 4. No one did the right thing or report as obligated. Integrity? 5. It was actively discussed among athletic trainers and the full time employee involved. 6. SICKENING but absolutely normal behavior at this college. "

0

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