Christopher Newport University

"Well organized. Clear communicator. Knows the game. Very invested in player developed and care. "

"She’s a nightmare. Plays mind games with players, using us to replay her college days, cause she played at Maryland and sat the bench. She a sad old lady obsessed with her players and making their lives harder instead of helping them develop. Unless you’re someone who can suck up to her but even they don’t actually like her, they just want playing time. She’s honestly ruined the game for so many people including myself. It’s impossible to get a coach fired though, she’s been sued by a player before because she forces people to play through injurys and is still working there. "

"It is a DISGRACE that she is still coaching. Not only is she mentally and emotionally abusive, but creates a toxic environment for young women. She manipulates young girls into thinking they are horrible humans. Has even gone to the extent to call her team “alcoholics” and “binge drinkers”. WANTS to be involved with social life and stalks the every move of players, including payment and credit card transactions via Venmo. Players are put into therapy and put on medication for the damage she has created on them and their families. Creates divide between players and families. Belittles young women and doesn’t instill confidence. Players are scared to speak for the fear they will be intensely punished. Not to mention the fact there is absolutely ZERO coaching skill. Players have had success because of their talent not because of her. Players tend to get benched with no explanation and if the team loses, the blame is put on others. Players are trauma bonded. It is sad to watch this all happen and for nothing to be done. It is time for CNU to make a change. "

"Lisa Valentine needs to be fired. She gaslights, manipulates, lies and is inappropriately involved in players lives. She targets girls within each grade and will relentlessly embarrass them. She claims she loves team culture but can’t hold herself to that standard. She is very calculated and will insert herself into players private lives through stalking. She has created a toxic environment where players feel scared to do/say anything wrong. Claims that she uses a depth chart to create open communication between the players and coaches but it is a mind game and doesn’t stick to using it for games. It is sad CNU has allowed her to coach here this long and has not investigated the abuse players are enduring. Disregarding the off field insanity that is happening on this team, she is a bottom of the line coach who does NOT develop players. She only cares about accolades and stats but will reprimand players who talk about their stats. She refuses to allow players to grow within their skillset and pigeon holes them into elementary skills. She is a harmful presence to 17 year olds coming into college. This is not something that should be overlooked, there needs to be a change or else more players will leave traumatized. Not to mention OVER 3 players quit a year and many players are put on medication due to anxiety and depression from the toxic environment. "

"CNU needs an immediate and full investigation into Lisa Valentine and her toxic culture and environment. She is emotionally and verbally abusive and gaslights players regularly. She creates anxiety and fear on and off field, abuses her touted depth chart routinely to create confusion and mistrust amongst teammates instead of fair assessments to motivate, and lies to players and families during recruiting. Every reason she’ll give your daughter as to why she wants her on team, she’ll twist and breakdown and eventually say the exact opposite of what she needs from them creating mental chaos. Regularly speaks about parents to players in an unfavorable manner despite families doing all they can to support team and athletic department both in volunteerism for team needs and financially. Has very little knowledge of the game, has no in-game adjustment strategies other than benching players punitively, blaming only players for losses/losing during a game and frenetically cycling players into games. The team got to ncaa championships on their sheer talent alone and not for her “coaching”. If they had an actual coach they would have gone further. How she is still employed by CNU is beyond words. The ONLY thing she can be credited for is recruiting athletes that are talented, kind and who are highly motivated in their academics. It’s a shame they all end up trauma bonded. How many years is this going to go on? CNU athletics does a good job at social media for teams and their facilities are very nice. The trainers and support staff are wonderful. The academic support is also very strong. "