Appalachian State University

"As a parent I would sincerely caution ANY family from committing to this program. As our daughter is finally gone, she is now happy and has her passion for her lifelong sport back. The constant drain of the head coach was almost too much for her. She and her teammates were left with miserable Experiences, never expected from big school like App State. We heard the “chirps” but thought it was disgruntled players and boy were we wrong. This “coach” is pure misery. She will Break your child down and spit her out. She has zero passion for development or team culture. She thrives off fear and embarrassment and will level your top tier player to a zero right before your eyes. Please research. Don’t fall victim to the hype. Do better for your player. She deserves a better year than she will have here."

"As a player, my skill was refined and developed beyond what I had hoped for. Coach Smith is dedicated to each person on his team and when you play for him, you legitimately feel like part of a family-part of his family. To say he changed my life is an understatement. You will be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t feel as passionately as I do. If I could do it all over again and play for him again, I would do it in a heartbeat."

"When looking for the right program and fit it’s important to do your research. The sentiments and experiences shared in previous reviews of this coach are quite similar and almost identical to my personal experience as a player at this program. When one or two players share a concern it may be isolated, but when numerous players, even at various schools share similar and almost identical experiences and feelings, you might want to pay attention. College soccer should be challenging, fun and positive. You spend the majority of your time playing and practicing. Constantly feeling torn down, or in a negative environment is extremely challenging. Playing under coach Haywood was truly one of the most difficult times in my life. I encourage players to do their homework. There are some really great programs and coaches out there. I wish I had known about this site prior to making my decision. It would have been a game changer for me. While not everyone’s is the same, current and former players can sometimes give the most valuable insights. My best advice to any player looking at college programs…do your research!"

"As a parent, do you know what it is like to answer a call from your daughter and hesitate before saying hello to listen if she is crying or not? Do you know what it feels like to get these calls after most games and practices and feel helpless? This is what I have lived while my daughter played for Aimee Haywood at App. There are probably too many instances to list, or I think I have blocked some of it and cannot remember each occurence, but this sums up some of it. -Regularly attributes positive plays by certain players to “accidents,” while excusing or redirecting responsibility for errors made by a small, consistent group of favored players. -Publicly and privately assigns blame to players on the sideline for team performance, including criticizing them for not cheering loudly enough. -Discourages or prohibits players from seeking clarification or guidance from assistant coaches; assistants redirect players back to the head coach when approached. -Controls players’ interpersonal relationships by commenting on or directing who players should or should not socialize with and how much time they spend together. -Uses selective attention as a coaching tool, including consistently ignoring certain players during training, games, and team interactions while engaging others. -Conducts end‑of‑year evaluations requiring athletes to identify strengths, then tells some players they have “no strengths,” only minor competencies. -Repeatedly brings players to tears during individual or group meetings without offering constructive feedback, support, or follow‑up. -Creates and maintains an informal tier system within the team (and maybe this is part of D1 soccer but the treatment of the players in these groups is the differentiator): ---A small group of consistently favored players ---A rotating group with limited opportunity ---A group that rarely sees playing time and receives minimal engagement as a player and person Treatment, communication, and feedback vary noticeably between these tiers, independent of effort or conduct. The AD has received this information, as well as compliance, with no action taken. This abuse will continue until there are repercussions like the article I am listing below. https://www.npr.org/2026/03/28/g-s1-114976/crossing-the-line-emotional-abuse-in-college-sports-marta-marija-galic?utm_campaign=feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=later-linkinbio&fbclid=PAVERFWARCHSZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAad4Zh_fYJ2d5Xi2__QibsBwD-tc65n8KbgIL8M-PyrnK16sX4mLohEefWbgwA_aem_pS6np4Mz8xPbw1d6WEnhiA"

"I had to write my experience after someone told Me about this site and seeing so many similar stories. It’s laughable at this point that this “coach” is still around. This coach continues to recruit and lose, recruit and lose players. Leaving last year was the BEST decision I ever made. I am finally enjoying my soccer experience at a better school. My parents are finally able to come to games without having to watch me bawl my eyes out after a game (which by the way she makes fun of all the girls because they literally all cry (and I’m not even a crier but she broke me down.) I have sent details to the office staff, AD but they still keep her. Thankfully the word is out in the soccer clubs because so many girls are sharing their experiences. I had heard but still thought it would never happen to me. It did. It sucked. She sucks and you will regret it if you go there and she’s still there. PLEASE dm old players - they will all tell you. The school is beautiful- the campus is fun. It’s NOT going to be any different than the stories you are reading. Nothing will change her. She’s a terrible human and will make you hate your season"