"I had a difficult time choosing only 5 of the above adjectives to capture how great of a coach and person Ronda is. She cares deeply for her players both on and off the field. She has a competitive spirit that motivates athletes to work hard. Practicing an outdoor sport indoors is challenging. Athletes often struggle to stay motivated during the off season. Ronda kept us engaged by avoiding redundancy. We would have intense conditioning practices, “off hand throws only dodgeball games”, scrimmages, game time scenarios, relay races, combo drills, and much more. Her practices were methodically planned to maximize productivity and always seemed to fly by. My senior year the entire team had an epic “prank war” against the coaching staff (the victors of which remains debatable) and I still laugh when telling those stories. I can undoubtedly say that the years I spent at DU were some my best. Ronda transformed me into a next level athlete, helped me fine tune my leadership skills, and gave me advice that to this day, I still use. She showed me what it means to be a reliable teammate. This has translated to my professional life as well as my personal life. I am extremely grateful that I was able to learn from her as she truly is one of the best around! DU it!!"
"This team has been through it all. Ups, downs, and everything in between. The only good thing about the past coaches is they laid the foundation by recruiting good strong talent. The weak links of players realized they couldn’t cut it with this team and quit. The rest have stuck through and now with Ronda at the helm, that hard work is turning into more wins. Thanks Ronda for working to bring back the winning culture."
"When Ronda took over the team mid-season, everything changed. Stepping into a leadership role in the middle of a season is never easy. But Ronda didn’t just step in; she stepped up. She brought clarity, focus, and an unwavering belief in the group’s potential. Her ability to connect with players, adjust strategies on the fly, and instill a culture of accountability sparked an immediate shift. Under her leadership, the team found its identity. That’s the impact of a true leader: turning a challenging time into a turning point."
"Ronda’s outstanding leadership as a softball coach at Davenport University deserves to be recognized. Her dedication to the sport and to her players is evident in the growth and success of the team since she took over. Ronda brings a level of professionalism, passion, and strategic insight that truly sets her apart. She is a tremendous asset to Davenport University, and her impact deserves to be recognized. Anyone who says otherwise can’t be believed."
"DU made a change to the softball program and it couldn’t be better. The team is coming together and is getting stronger. This is a softball program that has a history of winning teams. While the timing wasn’t ideal, we are so thankful they did. This shows that DU cares about their athletes and wants to bring back the winning culture. Go Panthers!"
"As someone who is new to Davenport University in general, and new to the softball program, I am absolutely gutted at the nasty comments that are being made here, hiding behind a screen is WEAK. Ronda is an INTERIM coach. If you know what that means, if not here’s a definition: an interim coach is a temporary coach who takes over a team when the regular coach leaves or gets fired. They’re just filling in until the team finds a permanent replacement. She’s not here to stay and coach the softball team for the rest of her life, it’s a temporary solution to a problem. Coaches got fired = interim coach. Problems fixed. It’s sad to see that people I once respected as coaches have done a complete 180° from who they were when I first met them, now posting things on here that not only attack Ronda but also are attacking us, the players on their OLD team. It’s childish, foolish, and down right disgusting and ridiculous. People need to move on and grow up. "
"There has been much adversity this year yet this team comes through time and time again. Keep up the great work and show your strength and resiliency in these last few games. Disregard the negative comments and those who want to see you fail. Prove them wrong and finish the season with your heads held high. Ronda, we know you are doing the best you can. There is a lot of haters on here who don't have the courage to stand up for what they really believe in and have to spam this site with hate and negativity. Thank you for helping this team overcome their obstacles this year with all of the issues, the weather, the mess; you are doing an amazing job. "
"Read through these comments, if you know, you know. Keep your head up girls, keep working hard. Don't let these cyberbullies take away what you have accomplished this year. Ronda you are doing a great job and hope you know we appreciate you."
"As a parent of several college athletes, I have nothing but good things to say about Ronda. She has stepped up to coach to fulfill the need and allow our daughters to finish this season. For years at DU, the softball program was very successful, yet with the last set of coaches it was declining. I believe that the previous coaches tried to bring in talented players, but there were several issues with the other players that resulted in toxic tension on the team. Most of those players left, and the remaining players are finally coming together as a team and are actually very good. From the sounds of it, many are still unhappy and what I can't figure out is why would anyone allow their daughter to continue to be abused or mistreated if that was really happening. If my daughter was experiencing what you are claiming she would be gone immediately. There is no amount of scholarship that would keep my daughter in that situation. My daughter does not get much playing time but knows that there are other girls that are ahead of her. She is glad to wait for her time as many college players do. So if things aren't working out for your daughter, why doesn't she enter the portal? Why are you letting her be mentally abused? If I can answer that for you, I would say it's because you are not who you say you are. It is evident by your posts and comments that you are disgruntled and angry, and lashing out at a coach who has nothing to do with your problems. Ronda started the softball program at Davenport, and she has a lot of stake in the game to see it succeed. We fully support her as the coach and hope she knows that this platform does not represent what people really think of her. "
"My daughter is thriving playing for Ronda. Shes an amazing human being. I will never bash other players on the team and I think all of the girls have been through enough. This is college softball, playing time is earned. If your child isn’t playing she can work harder. "
"We are so happy with this coach, even though our daughter has not played much, we are relieved she is no longer suffering from the mental abuse from the previous coaches. This is college softball, playing time is earned and we understand that. If you’re not playing then you need to work harder."
"It's clear that the negative statements about Ronda don’t reflect the reality of her coaching. Ronda is deeply committed to her athletes and works hard to ensure they develop both as players and individuals. If there were concerns about practice, it’s important to address them directly, but it's unfair to undermine her dedication. Ronda’s focus is on building a strong foundation for her team, and while every practice may not always look the same, every session is designed to help her players grow. She takes pride in creating an environment where her athletes are challenged and encouraged to improve, and those who truly understand her coaching style see the value in her approach. Disparaging comments like this overlook the effort and care Ronda consistently puts into making sure her team is prepared and supported."
"It’s unfortunate that someone would make such negative and baseless claims about Ronda, especially considering the incredible impact she’s had on her team. Ronda is anything but a "terrible person." She has worked tirelessly to build a supportive and empowering environment for her players, instilling in them values of hard work, dedication, and teamwork. Her coaching goes beyond just the game; she mentors and nurtures each athlete, helping them grow both on and off the field. The positive impact she’s had on her team is evident in their commitment and success. The comments in question only serve to show a lack of understanding of the respect and admiration Ronda has earned from her athletes. Those who truly know Ronda and her coaching style can see through the negativity."
"If you want to know why the team struggled, just look at how many players quit under the old coaching staff. Coach Varnesdeel is putting the program back on track with actual leadership and respect for the athletes."
"Ronda’s thoughtfulness truly shines through in everything she does for the team, and providing bagels for them is just one example of her care. It’s those little gestures that show how much she values and supports her athletes, making them feel appreciated and energized. It’s not just about the bagels—it’s about the spirit of encouragement and team bonding she fosters."
"Ronda is so dedicated and caring. She did not claim to build this team but she is surely repairing it. The players who quit due to not receiving playing time are the ones complaining on here. How comical to claim Ronda told girls to smash her keys. Ronda is a professional and educated coach with a love for the game. She deserves a throne in the dugout. Thank you Ronda you are much appreciated."
"The number of players who quit before the season even started says it all. Those two former coaches stole from the program, mentally abused players, and left the team in ruins. The toxic environment they created drove athletes away, and now they’re hiding behind fake reviews to try to cover up their failures. Coach Varnesdeel stepped in and cleaned up their mess. She’s the one actually leading and rebuilding the program they destroyed.
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"Having been a teammate of Ronda’s, I can say her coaching at Davenport University is a natural extension of the leadership she showed on the field. She knows how to push athletes to excel while maintaining a supportive, team-first mindset. Ronda’s ability to connect with her players and elevate their game both mentally and physically is what truly sets her apart as a coach."
"As a former teammate of Ronda, I can honestly say her coaching style reflects the same passion and dedication she brought to the field. She has the ability to push athletes to their limits while still fostering a sense of camaraderie and trust. Ronda’s experience and leadership make her an inspiring coach who truly understands how to bring out the best in everyone."
"Hi! Ronda is just doing her job as best she can at the moment and I personally feel like it’s fine. Yeah the situation sucks that the coaches got fired but it’s over and done with & everyone on the team has moved on and gotten over it. Ronda is doing her best to deal with coaching a division 2 softball team while also being an assistant AD. "
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