"As a former player under Coach T and now an assistant coach, I’ve experienced the early stages of something special taking shape. ODU may not be a winning team yet, but the foundation is being laid and that’s often the hardest part. Rebuilding a program takes more than talent; it takes culture, consistency, and a willingness to face hard truths. This team is learning how to compete, how to respond to failure, and how to push forward. The wins will come, but the culture shift is already underway. This is an underdog team right now and players deciding to commit to ODU need to realize that before committing. Coach T isn’t afraid to hold players accountable. In a time when tough love is often misread, she continues to challenge athletes to grow through adversity, not avoid it. Her honest feedback, high standards, and refusal to settle are exactly what this program needs to turn the corner. I personally preferred tough love style of coaching when I played, but I know some players can’t handle that type of leadership style b/c they never had that at home. Coaches now have to be mindful of the gentle coaching era and adapt their styles to athletes that need that type of style. That being said most of my teammates wanted the tough love style from Coach T b/c it made us better at lacrosse. That intensity is balanced by intentional time away from lacrosse to disconnect, reset, and stay fresh b/c building a strong team also means taking care of the people in it. If that mix of tough love and recovery time isn’t your jam, then ODU might not be the place for you. But if you're ready to be coached hard, supported fully, and grow on and off the field, then there's no better program to be part of. Just make sure you bring that underdog mentality. Underdogs don’t have perfect records….YET. That have to scrap and build despite the naysayers. The players that join now contribute to turning the tide. They might not get to experience the full glory of a JMU type of record b/c that takes time – 10 years to be exact. Again, hard truth. I still to this day keep in touch with Coach T and I know that if I picked up the phone to call her on a personal or professional note, she’d be there. I learned a lot under her watch and I hope the hard work starts to pay off for ODU lax. Side note that I've come to realize as a coach...this field isn't for the faint of heart. You really have to have tough skin bc there will always be people that aren't satisfied with your style as a coach. Can't please everybody. "

"As an in-conference coach, I know how demanding this level of lacrosse can be...recruiting, retaining, developing talent, and managing the emotional ups and downs of 18- to 22-year-olds and their snowplow parents (google it). It’s not easy to rebuild a program in today’s landscape, but Theresa is doing it the right way. She coaches with a level of honesty and structure that’s becoming harder to find. In an era where managing feelings often takes precedence over confronting performance, she’s struck a rare balance of holding players accountable while still creating space for them to grow, fail, and regroup. That’s what it takes at this level. You can’t build a competitive team without addressing the hard stuff: roles, minutes, academics, mental health, the transfer portal....it all matters. And Theresa doesn’t shy away from any of it. You can see the shift at ODU...They're more fit, more fight, more discipline, more buy-in. It’s clear Theresa's players are being coached, not just managed. That kind of culture doesn’t show up overnight, but it’s exactly how long-term success is built. "

"Coach T has masterfully guided her program through a remarkable transformation. After years of tough seasons since 2017, her steady leadership, relentless work ethic, and belief in long-term growth have started to pay off. This season’s painful climb towards success is a testament to her vision and the patience it takes to rebuild a program from six feet under. What once was a struggling team is now one that is working towards a winning roster—a team that is going to have to embrace working harder than everyone else in the American conference just to have a chance at competing at that level. If players aren't up for embracing the grind, working hard, and pushing through non-conventional norms then this isn't the program for you --- Coach T deserves every bit of credit for turning the tide and proving that with time, trust, and determination, real change is possible. It's good to see ODU athletic department staying the course and ignoring the noise. "

"Anyone who knows Coach Theresa Walton beyond the sidelines, beyond the stats, and beyond the headlines understands one thing: she is not only an incredibly capable lacrosse coach but a genuinely kind, committed, and principled person. Coach Walton doesn’t just understand Division I lacrosse—she lives it. More importantly, she’s committed to developing her players off the field. She’s the type of coach who will drop everything when one of her athletes calls with a concern. That level of dedication is rare. Yes, people are entitled to their opinions online. But attacking someone’s character from a distance—especially through the lens of helicopter parenting or post-graduation bitterness—lacks maturity and perspective. If I had to guess, some of the negativity stems from a culture shift where, unfortunately, women tear down other women out of insecurity or jealousy. We should be lifting each other up, especially in tough seasons—not piling on when someone’s already learning a hard lesson. This is a brutal profession. Anyone who’s coached, played, or administered in the D1 space knows that. So let’s remind ourselves: “He or she who is without sin among you, let them be the first to throw a stone.” Spend just five minutes with Theresa, and it’s obvious—she goes above and beyond for her athletes. Her coaching style is direct, passionate, and loud—traits often celebrated in male coaches. If she were a man, would we be as fixated on tone or language? Would these personal critiques be the same if they were aimed at legendary coaches like Geno Auriemma (UCONN), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Nick Saban (Alabama), or John Tillman (Maryland men’s lacrosse)? All are known for their vocal, intense coaching styles. Even in women’s sports, you have coaches like the late, Pat Summit (Univ of Tenn), Kim Mulkey (LSU) and Jenny Levy (UNC Women’s Lacrosse) who are unapologetically loud and passionate on the sidelines. They demand excellence. And yet, they too have faced criticism for the very leadership traits that often define greatness. I think this is part of a larger issue - We’ve somehow lost the ability to let our adult children face difficulty on their own. When did it become unacceptable for a coach to give honest, direct feedback? Why are parents stepping in to fight their college-aged children’s battles? This generation deserves the chance to learn resilience—how to deal with challenges, advocate for themselves, and grow through discomfort. That’s how they thrive beyond the field. Since arriving at ODU, Coach Walton has taken on the massive task of rebuilding a culture and program, both on and off the field. That requires patience, talent, and time. Competing in the American Conference demands high-level skill, and it takes time to recruit players who can meet that standard. She’s doing that work—strategically and relentlessly. That bench will continue to grow and gain depth with talented players that can relieve the starters and uphold the lead with confidence and trust. Let’s be clear: this is Division I lacrosse. Players have top-tier resources and a coach who actively seeks to connect and support them every day. Players need to take advantage of that. Speak up with concerns. Show up with grit. Grow and learn from feedback. If they choose not to do the hard work, that’s on them. You won’t always love your head coach—that’s reality. But the players who grow most are the ones who’ve weathered the challenges, who’ve learned to hear hard truths, and who one day look back and say, “Thank you for pushing me.” As a former player, coach, and administrator—and someone who’s worked directly with Coach Walton—I challenge you to pick up the phone and talk to her yourself. I think you’ll walk away with a very different perspective than what’s being circulated on this forum. "

"Coach T knows how to push players to be their best. She puts our team in the best position to compete. She doesn't play favorites, she wants to win, I want to win and if that means players who aren’t ready yet don’t get minutes- that’s fine. She creates a good team culture because it’s not about individual players, it’s about how we all come together to compete as a team. She won’t be a good coaching fit if you constantly make excuses. This is D1. She is an awesome coach if you want to improve your game play and IQ. She’s an excellent coach if you want to build a winning team culture. Reading the comments on here just sucks especially for a someone like Coach T who has done so much for us over the last two years. And trying to attack her character anonymously online is unfair and embarrassing to the program. What sucks the most is we’re still talking about this 3 months later. I’m just excited for the fall and to get back on the field representing ODU Lacrosse in a positive way. Let’s be real the only reason people come on here is to complain. "

"My daughter was coached by Coach Walton who helped develop her to be a to player who still holds records today. She is a two time all American and conference defensive player of the year every year she played. After my daughter completed her undergraduate degree Covid allowed her to continue an extra year.. Coach Walton continued to follow her and gave her the confidence to play and win a national championship, getting on the all tournament team. She then started a program that won the regular season championship. When an opportunity arose for her to coach in a more competitive conference she accepted that opportunity. It must have been difficult for her to make the decision to leave the program she started to tackle a problem that existed with unknown team dynamics and losing culture. I was impressed after she had a losing record she chose a more difficult schedule to help the team be more competitive in their conference. I can’t wait to see impacts the program with her recruits that are committed to the demand of division one lacrosse. I can’t wait to watch her next season! "