"  Our son joined CUI Lacrosse in the fall of 2020.  Before college, we had no experience playing for Jesse and were only familiar with him through Adrenaline Club Lacrosse.  To be frank, we had no idea Jesse coached at CUI or that this college even existed until he approached my son during some HS club tournaments.   With our 2020 high school senior season destroyed by COVID, we were thirsting for more lacrosse and felt like our son had the talent to help a growing program succeed.  When Jesse reached out to our son about CUI, we were ecstatic that a local program existed near our home.  He committed to CUI and Jesse at the end of April 2020, and we capped off my son’s college career this last spring 2026.  In my six years of observation from the sidelines, we would probably give one word that describes this coach: passionate.  For better or worse, in some cases.  In our opinion, weak-minded and undisciplined players will fail under Jesse Foss, and we witnessed this firsthand.  Jesse, through tough love and disciplined early-morning practices, commanded excellence.  Our son, a young adult, quickly learned the ways of Coach Foss and adapted to his style and thrived in this environment.  We, as parents, stayed out of the way of Coach Foss and relied on our son’s ability to adapt to a passionate coach.  In the 2020-2021 season, we personally witnessed Jesse Foss navigate his way through toxic players and toxic parents.  With all these issues, we still managed to beat our then-rival school, Chapman.  What a great celebration with tons of CUI alumni screaming and hugging.  We witnessed a team slowly beginning to bond.   I saw a passionate coach get emotional, but the best was yet to come, as he continued to push excellence and winning as a result. If you want someone to coddle your son, then Jesse is not for you.  If you want your son to get better at lacrosse and life in general, then send him to CUI.  In six long years, we saw a positive culture change, continued improvement, and sweet victory under the stern and passionate coach Jesse Foss.  We will never forget these amazing years now gone, and we thank Jesse for the time he sacrifices away from his family and dedicates to the boys he truly loves.  "

"There was never a question of where my son was going to play college lacrosse. It was to play for Jesse Foss at Concordia University Irvine. I firmly believe that without Coach Foss - my son would not have returned to play his sophomore year as he struggled academically as a freshman. It was Coach Foss’ influence as a leader and mentor that pushed my son to the limit on and off the field. Long story short - my son graduated 4 years later with a 3.25 GPA, he was a Captain his senior year and now successfully navigating a future and career with previous Concordia lacrosse players. You see - it was the camaraderie that Coach Foss established that led to our son now working closely with previous teammates. There is a sense of drive and determination that we see in our son that did not exist before his Concordia Irvine lacrosse experience. This team continually improved its roster, standings and outcomes every single year. Winning the DIII Club championship over schools like Georgia Tech and Liberty to winning RMAC in 2026. He never stopped believing in the full potential of our son and his entire team. I would recommend Jesse Foss to lead any D1 or D2 lacrosse program. I only hope that some day I can return the favor to Coach Foss. "

"Coach Jesse Foss has made it clear that he cares more about the person above all else. He is leading young men into adulthood with a solid foundation to become successful in any endeavor. Lacrosse success is a byproduct of that. Coach Foss gave my son the confidence academically and athletically by holding the standard. Our family didn’t think college was something we could afford and he gave us the information and mentorship to make it possible for our family."

"Best Coach we have ever had for any of our 6 kids. Enough said. Carl Collins"

"As a parent, I’ve really appreciated having Foss as a coach for my son. He brings a lot of energy and holds his players to a high standard. His coaching style is disciplined and old fashioned in the best way. He expects effort, accountability, and commitment and it bodes well in helping shape my son into a man. The standards he sets within the program and the results the team achieves speaks to the leader and coach he is. "

"My son Justin DeFoe transferred into Concordia after playing two seasons of lacrosse at a D-3 School in Colorado. Justin tore his ACL/MCL and Meniscus at his last game in Colorado. Justin and I reached out to Coach Foss who was welcoming and understanding. As a law enforcement professional of over 30 years and a veteran, I immediately recognized that Coach Foss possessed a leadership style that promoted fairness and accountability both off and on the field. My son Justin struggled academically based on a learning disability and I reached out to Coach Foss for support and assistance. Coach Foss immediately responded and provided valuable and ongoing assistance. I also heard from other parents who had the same experience. I attended each and every home and away game that CUI played for three years. I had the privilege to listen to his pre-game speeches as well as during games when I assisted on the sidelines. Coach Foss always demonstrated his passion for the game and more importantly his love for his players. Coach Foss was instrumental in teaching, coaching and mentoring my son. I am confident Justin is the leader, trainer and coach he is today based on Coach Foss' mentoring, leadership and love he demonstrated toward my son. "

"While no coach is perfect and competitive environments can be challenging, this coach consistently demonstrates commitment to the program, the athletes, and the sport. He runs structured practices (that are definitely not repetitive). He holds his players to a high standard and emphasizes discipline, accountability, and teamwork. While these qualities are often uncomfortable, they are essential for growth, which is something that I have experienced. His teams are consistently prepared and competitive, which does not happen without a strong understanding and planning. He is also a former collegiate athlete himself, so to say he is unknowledgeable is ridiculous. Repetition in practice is not laziness; it is a proven coaching strategy used to build muscle memory, consistency, and confidence. Many successful coaches rely on repetition because it works. As for allegations of favoritism or toxicity, every team has athletes who naturally take on leadership roles or connect more strongly due to work ethic, attitude, or experience. That does not equate to inappropriate behavior. Holding players accountable and pushing them beyond their comfort zone can feel harsh in the moment, but it often leads to long-term improvement and resilience, which is a coach's job. From my perspective as a current player, he is a dedicated coach who challenges his athletes, prepares them to compete, and cares deeply about the success of his program."

"Coach Dylan is genuinely a good person who cares about his players on and off the field. He was always approachable and supportive, and he made an effort to check in with us as people, not just athletes. I played all four years in the program, and the experience helped me grow in discipline, time management, and teamwork. He values commitment and accountability, and he truly wants his players to succeed beyond lacrosse. Overall, I’m grateful for the relationships and lessons I gained during my time in the program."

"He recruited my son, stand up guy who dies what he says every time"

"I can’t imagine myself playing anywhere else than CUI and Crystal is a big part of that. She teaches my team how to become great softball players, but even greater people off the field. She cares a lot about how we treat our coaches, teammates, professors, and family and she teaches us beyond the softball aspect of everything. "