Colorado State University (Pueblo)

"Wish my daughter had played for him all 4 years. My daughter fell in love with soccer again playing for him. Treats the girls right and makes it fun for them! He hired a good assistant. She liked him too. "

"Based on my visit, she seemed like a nice person, but at the time it did not appear that the program had experienced much success in the past few years."

"Very poor experience. Wasn’t reliable at all and didn’t communicate in any way possible. "

"Sierra Cardenas It seems that there are issues with Sierra Cardenas and her approach to coaching. Coach Sierra engages in manipulative tactics, falsehoods, and creates a negative atmosphere for the players. Additionally, she berates and belittles them, which is highly worrisome. She talks negatively about the players to other players, which is not conducive to a positive team environment. She allows her captains to make decisions about team starters and have a say in punishment, which may not be fair to all players. Furthermore, she seems to have a preference for certain players, allowing them to behave without consequences while being quick to suspend others. Furthermore, the assistant coach, Frankie LaManna, has been described as having an unacceptable temper and using inappropriate language towards the girls. His behavior contradicts what he tells them to do and has caused tension within the team. It is worth noting that we have had five assistant coaches in the past five years, all of whom were more knowledgeable than Sierra and Franky combined. This situation is causing some distress among the players. Sierra holds a master's degree in Applied Sports Psychology, while Frankie has a PhD. in Psychology. It feels as if they’re conducting a study using our players(daughters) as subjects. As it appears that they manipulate the girls against each other by contradicting their instructions and then punishing them for following those instructions. Regrettably, my daughter's self-assurance has suffered as a result of playing under Sierra's coaching, and I would not recommend her coaching style. The frequent turnover of assistant coaches indicates a toxic environment, and Franky's presence has only exacerbated the situation. Given the turnover we've experienced with assistant coaches in recent years, it is crucial that we prioritize the best interests of our female students in athletics. I believe it is essential for the school administration to address this situation promptly, and ensure that a new coaching staff provides a positive and supportive atmosphere for our players. I would not advise sending your daughter to play for these two coaches. It has caused mental anguish for my daughter. I wish I would have known this sooner but too late for my daughter since she is done and trying to move forward with a more positive program. I just wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for the excellent facilities and overall quality of CSUP. The resources available to the students greatly enhance the learning experience. However, I wanted to remind you not to let the enticing words sway your decision regarding playing for this program. It's important to remain cautious and make decisions based on careful consideration rather than being persuaded by what we want to hear. If the school fails to take appropriate action and replace these two coaches, it may negatively impact the development and well-being of your daughter. "

"Stunned Coach John left JU. Still find it hard to comprehend why he walked away from a program he was so excited about building up over the next few years. Coach threw his heart and his soul and every ounce of energy he had in to the JU program and treated the players with respect. He has set the next coach up for a successful few years as the 2023 freshmen class he recruited and left behind are legit. It will be interesting to see if Coach decides to coach again or continues with his student athlete recruitment business he just started. Personally, I feel he is a loss to the game if he doesn't coach again. I have yet to see a more passionate coach or organized coach. The guy seemed to have a plan for every situation. A full alphabet worth of plans!"