"When the coaching change at Bradley occurred I was on the fence about joining the portal. After a first meeting with Coach Willis I liked what I was hearing and decided to stay at Bradley. Some days I wonder what would have happened if I had transferred. When people ask me if I miss softball I say no and if they ask why I say because of her which is the sad but hard truth. The rude remarks about players to other players behind their backs was atrocious as someone who takes respect seriously. Acting as gossiping teenagers to players was not something I respected. The lack of compassion with injury and mental health was sickening to say the least especially when she noted a mental health battle in front of peers when the player was trying to keep the issue quiet. She has taken away my love for the sport entirely. She knows how to pull in recruits with the nice words but will discard you once you commit. From her husband unfollowing my parents once I graduated to her making promises she did not intend to keep, I would rate the experience a 0/10 and would recommend not attending Bradley entirely and look for a different experience. The whole experience was one I wouldn’t wish on my enemies. "

"Coach Willis ruined my passion for the game. She paints a false narrative for what this Bradley program is and what they stand for. She states that she is building a new culture, but the only culture she is building is that fake people and suck ups to the coaches get to play, NOT the people that actually put in the work. She is manipulative and lies to your face about game time and if you ask for feedback it doesn’t matter what you have done she will always give you the answer of ‘be more consistent’ even when you are 3/3 in a scrimmage and that is the only game like playing time you get. If you are in the starting 9 at the beginning of the fall you will remain in that 9 until the end of spring no matter what and if you are on the bench prepare to keep that seat warm. You are not allowed to talk with your athletic trainer or make jokes on the bench and if you’re injured prepare yourself to be invisible or play through your injury. If you choose to look after your injury instead of play through it you will be ignored for weeks as I was. There is no check ins on players and when we asked for more mental health support we were told it is a ‘two way street’. Honestly save your time and your love for the sport and play somewhere else. She does not know how to coach or look after her players. We are people as well as softball players and until she learns that i will never tell anyone to play for her. "

"If I could tell anyone interested in coming to Bradley to play for Coach Willis, I would tell them not to do it unless you want to ruin your college career and experience. Coach Willis and her staff do not know how to develop you into a player that is successful at this level. She talks a lot of game but will never follow through. She knows how to talk and will say exactly what you want to hear but lacks honesty. She demands accountability from everyone but can never take accountability for herself and her own actions. She will make you leave hating yourself, you life, and destroy your confidence. If you become injured, don’t expect her to ever interact with you afterwards. She lets her ego control every aspect of the game. If you are looking for a program that supports you and feels like a family, this is not the program for you. You will just be a number on the roster, not an actual human being. There is not a good team culture. She does not care to have any type of relationship with her players, only cares about what you can do for her. Again, consider this and the other reviews that are posted as she has ruined the Bradley Softball program during the past three years. "

"As someone who played for Coach Willis a few years ago, my heart breaks reading these comments but it also feels relieving to know I wasn't alone. I was injured, struggling with my confidence, and just needed my coach to believe in me. I have never in my ENTIRE life felt so discarded and ignored by someone who calls themselves a "coach". And when you go to have a conversation about why you're not playing, be prepared to get the most round-about answer you will ever receive. I was excited to have a coach that cared, and instead I had to witness the most emotionally immature & manipulative coaching staff treat me and 99% of my teammates like garbage. Thank you Coach Willis for reminding me of all the people who truly mattered and shaped my softball career, because it was never you. Don't worry- if I ever have the opportunity to coach a group of young women, I'll make sure I support, coach, and mentor them the way you never could. I loved Bradley, but I'm sad you had to be a part of the softball experience. I hope someday you read these and won't let your narcissism get in the way of giving your past & present players the apology they deserve. "

"She is by far the worst coach I have ever played for and if you or a friend is going to Bradley University to play softball under her, tell them DO NOT GO! She is a manipulator and so self conscious and takes it out on her players. She doesn’t treat everyone equally and plays favorites ALL THE TIME. If you’re injured or not a starter just consider yourself no longer a part of the team because she and the other two knuckle heads will ignore you and act like you aren’t even there. Don’t even think about wearing a hood and sunglasses you will be called “unapproachable.” Never believe a word she says because she will only tell you what you want to hear. She ruined my confidence about myself and who I am as a softball player. She has made comments about my body, appearance, and who I am as a person. Do your research before coming here and ask the right people who won’t cover up their lies and bs. I was both a starter, a non-starter, and injured. I’ve seen every single side to Coach Willis and her knucklehead assistants and none of them are pretty. Do not go to Bradley if you are playing underneath Sarah Willis!!!"

"The worst coach that I have ever played for. Didn’t just make me hate softball, but made me want to quit the sport all together. Gives up on players so easily, couldn’t admit that she ever treats anyone badly, is extremely egotistical, waste of time to ever talk to her, and lacks any sort of empathy. So disingenuous and I questioned daily how she ever got a job as a coach. "

"gives up on you if you don’t perform, loves to hear herself talk"

"Gives up on players too easily Egotistical to a fault, hates being questioned and/ or proved wrong. Degrades players to "fuel" them Rarely genuine about anything, doesn't really care about all of the players or the team as a whole Late to practices Burns people out QUICKLY "

"1/5 stars 0/5 wasn’t an option "

"Literally awful. She’s insecure & portrayed it onto us. Degraded all the time too! "