Women's Ice Hockey

Kristin Steele

Women's Ice Hockey Head Coach

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Conn Please Fire Her

Date: February 20, 2026

By Verified Athlete

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

"I wish I could go back in time & never commit to play for this woman. She is the most manipulative coach I've ever played for. To second what the message below says, she consistently plays mind games and belittles players. At one point, I asked what I could do to improve as a player and grow, and she proceeded to say, "Nothing, accept it. You'll never be as good as ___ & ___." She is also a MASSIVE hypocrite. She preaches mental health awareness and supporting her athletes when that is the absolute FARTHEST thing from the case. I had multiple traumatic events happen while at Conn that left me in a very dark mental place. When I went to her to share that I loved hockey more than anything, but I had to leave the team to focus on my mental health. She gaslighted me, claiming that I just fell out of love with hockey & that I would not be feeling this way if I were playing more. The reality was, I was playing awful BECAUSE of the dark place I was in & I needed help. I went to her for help, and she threw it back in my face. She also held this meeting in a room with a glass wall, following a team lift, so my entire team walked past as I sobbed to my coach, trying to convince her that the way I was feeling was real and I needed help. I never felt more belittled and humiliated in my life. She then proceeded to share the information that I wanted to quit with my teammates, leading my teammates to find out I was leaving before I even got the chance to tell them and explain. People write letters every year telling Conn Athletics to fire her. I highly doubt they ever will, but a girl can dream. "

0

Women's Soccer

Norm Riker

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Disastrous Experience

Date: November 8, 2025

By Parent

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Intense Direct Accessible Cool Poor Communication

"Horrible experience. Makes it all about him. Players frustrated. It’s a struggle to go to practice. Intimidating with players. Impossible to talk to. Dos not accept feedback. Plays mind games. Talks to players about other players. It’s embarrassing to be in his team"

0

Women's Ice Hockey

Kristin Steele

Women's Ice Hockey Head Coach

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

One Word. Awful

Date: October 26, 2025

By Athlete

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Intense Accessible Cool Direct Disorganized

"She is insane and genuinely the worst coach in the NCAA. She plays mind games with her players and belittles them. None of her players actually like her and want her to be fired every year. She is insanely biased and plays favorites, and even the favorites still do not like her. She ruined my college hockey experience and although I love hockey, I am more than happy that I have graduated and no longer have to play for her or her disgusting coaching. She should have lost her job at Conn before I even became a freshman, yet they will not fire her. Future athletes do not believe a word out of her mouth and do NOT play for her. "

0

Women's Soccer

Keith Simons

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Vassar College

NCAA DIII • Liberty League

Mentally Abusive

Date: October 11, 2025

By Other

1.6

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

2.0

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Cares About Academics Fitness Is Important

"I would not recommend this coach to anyone. He consistently disrespects players’ time and fails to value academics, despite claiming otherwise. He does not understand the balance expected in a Division III environment — instead, he treats the program like Division I, but without the structure, rules, or player protections that come with it. We are rarely, if ever, allowed proper breaks. Even during our 1.5-week October break, he schedules two mandatory sessions in the middle of the day, making it impossible for players to rest, travel, or spend time with family. In games, he often makes questionable tactical decisions that negatively affect the team. He also shows clear favoritism, giving extended playing time to certain players while benching others who have proven themselves to be stronger contributors. Perhaps most concerning is the emotional and mental abuse he places on players. His approach to communication, playing time, and team management is manipulative and mentally exhausting. He frequently makes promises about playing time that he doesn’t follow through on, leaving many players anxious, confused, and demoralized. His behavior is, frankly, emotionally abusive, and it msses with players mental health. "

0

Women's Ice Hockey

Kristin Steele

Women's Ice Hockey Head Coach

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Conn Needs To Fire Her If They Want A Winning Team.

Date: February 7, 2025

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Intense Accessible Cool Direct Disorganized

"If i could rate a zero i would. Has a horrible reputation among other NESCAC coaches and in girls youth hockey organizations. an emotionally manipulative person who is extremely apathetic towards her players despite claiming that she supports her players’ mental health. Players have written petitions to the athletic department every year to have her fired but she remains the head coach. She plays favorites and if she doesn’t like you there is nothing you can do to change that. she won’t play you and won’t make the effect to improve your game. She ruined my college hockey experience. "

0

Women's Soccer

Keith Simons

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Vassar College

NCAA DIII • Liberty League

Out Of Step With Moser Day Coching

Date: December 8, 2024

By Other

1.2

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

2.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Cares About Academics Fitness Is Important

"As a former soccer player I find his coaching style to be incomprehensible. Tactics and strategy seem to be lacking. The team had great success in 2024 due to the skills of the women on the team despite his many shortcomings as a coach. As a result of his coaching including insane practice regime especially the day before a game players were exhausted during game play. The weight training contributed to too many injuries. "

0

Women's Soccer

Keith Simons

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Vassar College

NCAA DIII • Liberty League

Those Who Cant Play, Coach. Those Who Cant Do Either Are Named Keith Simons

Date: October 17, 2024

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Cares About Academics Fitness Is Important

"Constantly refers to the soccer team as "his program" and "his career/legacy" making the players just a chess peice in his life long game. Admits to not wanting to play his best 11 and that talent is not the determinent of playing time but his percieved commitment to "what he's doing" which is measure not through time, effort, and success but basically who blows smoke up is a*s. Freshmen came up to me as a senior asking why the team had not made it clear during her recruitment that no one liked the staff as they felt lied to and decieved throughout the entire recruitment process compared to the reality upon arrival. I and others began taking a removed role in talking to recruits because we too did not want to mislead them. He uses players to mess with other players heads and as a result I have had to watch poor first year get excited and starting and playing significant time in multiple games in a row and doing nothing wrong only to be subsequently benched for the next games with zero discussion because they were unaware that an older player was simple in what some refer to as "time out." If you in anyway struggle with your body as many young girls do, please do not come to a program under this man where I expressed concern for the culture around fitness that was prompting players to work out three times a day 7 days a week and asked him to step in and tell them it was excessive because they were not listening to others, only to be told that I was undermining there dedication to the program (and to no surpirse we had teammates with countless overuse injuries and people needing to take semesters off for ED recovery. I loved my time at Vassar outside of soccer but it is really telling when alumni games have had to be cancelled for three years due to no attendence and when we play the prior female team who used to be an assistant coach (Wesleyan) they want nothing to do with him and talk s**t about him to players on our team. "

0

Women's Soccer

Keith Simons

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Vassar College

NCAA DIII • Liberty League

Fragile Ego Baby Man. Delusional.

Date: October 16, 2024

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Cares About Academics Fitness Is Important

"Keith Simons is a man with a fragile ego that is dependent on what 20 year old women think of him and boy does he make it obvious. If you do what he says and "buy in" to his ridiculous every changing 'tactics' and make it obvious that you like him and value his opinion, you're set. If you DARE to disagree with him about anything, voice concerns whether personal or team-based, or show any sort of divergence from his school of thought, too bad he won't care about you and he will make it painfully obvious to everyone then deny it if you ever bring it up with evidence to support it. Beyond an individual experience, this baby-man is delusional about the team which does not foster individual or team growth. He truly thinks he has a top-25 team in the country when the reality is the team is not beating anyone in the top 25. The players know it and he is lying to himself, creating an extremely unproductive practice environment. All in all, I wish my years on VCWS went differently (we faced emotional abuse and lots of manipulation), but I will say I learned to stand up for myself. ALSO, the director of athletics (Michelle Walsh) is complicit. SO many issues were brought up to her and she never did anything so much as a slap on the wrist and a cute little chat with Keith. "

0

Men's Lacrosse

Jim Nagle

Men's Lacrosse Head Coach

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Stay Away. No Connection To The Team.

Date: December 21, 2023

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Direct Accessible Intense Cool Honest

"Should be more successful than he has been at Conn. Conn is the easiest of the NESCAC schools to get into. "

0

Women's Soccer

Norm Riker

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Toxic Team And Player Environment

Date: November 22, 2023

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Intense Direct Accessible Cool Poor Communication

"If your dream is to play college soccer in a positive and welcoming environment- don’t play for Riker"

0

Women's Soccer

Keith Simons

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Vassar College

NCAA DIII • Liberty League

Terrible Toxic Coach! Creates Mental Health Problems In His Players

Date: October 25, 2023

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Cares About Academics Fitness Is Important

"Reading the above comments about the experience that these players have had with Coach Simons makes me sad as this is exactly the experience my daughter has had with him these last 3 seasons. He has created a toxic environment, plays favorites, creates a competitive environment within the team and never encourages or coaches. "

3

Women's Soccer

Norm Riker

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Coach’s Style, Yells And Belittles Players.

Date: October 8, 2023

By Other

1.6

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

2.0

1.0

2.0

1.0

2.0

Tags

Intense Direct Accessible Cool Poor Communication

"Create a negative team culture, is unapproachable and arrogant. At first seems like a kind person, but as the layers unfold, he simply is not. He plays head games with his players, and Connecticut College needs to hire a new Women’s Soccer Coach. "

4

Women's Soccer

Norm Riker

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Avoid Coach Norm Rikers’ Woman’s Soccer Program

Date: September 24, 2023

By Verified Athlete

1.8

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

4.0

1.0

2.0

Tags

Intense Direct Accessible Cool Poor Communication

"Coach Riker is not a good coach in the slightest! In fact he has never played high level soccer. He was a college lacrosse player and initially a lacrosse coach. Most players would describe his coaching as a “lacrosse coach trying to coach soccer.” Besides his poor coaching and tactics, Coach Riker promotes a toxic team culture. He plays mind games with his players! Pressuring other players to convince certain player to quit, which violates policy and boundaries. If you don’t believe that look at the turn around of player who make it to their senior year… the numbers don’t lie. Coach Riker is emotionally abusive and controls his players. I would say it is intentional, however, I truly believe he is off the rails crazy. Connecticut college is a beautiful school with great professors, however, if soccer is your main objective or goal in college I’d look at the other Nescacs or other schools."

6

Women's Soccer

Keith Simons

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Vassar College

NCAA DIII • Liberty League

Promotes Toxic Leaders, Does Not Foster A Team Environment

Date: August 25, 2023

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Cares About Academics Fitness Is Important

"“When you can stop acting so emotional, come and talk to me.” -Coach Simons"

5

Women's Soccer

Keith Simons

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Vassar College

NCAA DIII • Liberty League

Complete Disregard For Players Mental Well Being

Date: August 25, 2023

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Cares About Academics Fitness Is Important

"I have a hard time putting into words the emotional torment Coach Simons put me through while I was playing under him. His genuine disregard for players mental well being, poor communication and disrespect earned him this low rating. The culture that he creates within a team is toxic, individualistic and unnecessarily competitive between teammates. "

5

Women's Soccer

Keith Simons

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Vassar College

NCAA DIII • Liberty League

Terrible, Mental Health Damaging Coach.

Date: August 25, 2023

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Cares About Academics Fitness Is Important

"Keith Simons is not a respectable coach, he favors players, condones bullying and harassment of teammates by fellow teammates. Toxic coaching style that pits players against each other. "

8

Women's Soccer

Keith Simons

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Vassar College

NCAA DIII • Liberty League

Terrible Coach!!!!! He Is Awful

Date: August 25, 2023

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Cares About Academics Fitness Is Important

"This coach is absolutely awful. he is the worst. creates toxic team culture and acts blind to bullying on the team. "

4

Men's Lacrosse

Jim Nagle

Men's Lacrosse Head Coach

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Very Uncomfortable During Recruiting Visits. Should Have Registered...

Date: May 28, 2023

By Other

1.2

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

2.0

1.0

Tags

Direct Accessible Intense Cool Honest

"Not a player's coach. Overstays his welcome everywhere he goes."

0

Men's Lacrosse

Jim Nagle

Men's Lacrosse Head Coach

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Not My Kind Of Coach. He Will Never Win At Conn.

Date: March 11, 2023

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Direct Accessible Intense Cool Honest

"Terrible coach. Bad for culture."

1

Men's Lacrosse

Jim Nagle

Men's Lacrosse Head Coach

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Nagle Is A Not A Coach You Want To Play For. He Is Socially Inept.

Date: December 27, 2022

By Other

1.4

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

3.0

1.0

Tags

Direct Accessible Intense Cool Honest

"Nagle has no connection with his team. "

0

Men's Lacrosse

Dave Cornell

Former Men's Lacrosse Head Coach

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Toxic

Date: October 31, 2022

By Other

1.6

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

Tags

Intense Accessible Cool Direct

"He was an awful coach and was fired after far too long. Almost unanimously hated by all of his players, Cornell intentionally created and fostered toxic inter personal relationships on his team in the name of “competition.” Hopefully he’s done coaching forever so that he does not ruin the sport for any more kids. "

0

Women's Soccer

Norm Riker

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Not A Good Leader For Young Women!

Date: October 30, 2022

By Other

1.4

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

3.0

1.0

Tags

Intense Direct Accessible Cool Poor Communication

"Norm Riker does not care about individual players or about positive team culture. To get a good understanding of how his own players feel about him just look at hiw many players quit by their senior year. Most of these young women come into the program extremely passionate about soccer and leave extremely deflated. It's really a sad situation for a NESCAC team!"

6

Women's Field Hockey

Chrissy Needham

Women's Field Hockey Head Coach

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Trying Her Best, But Doesn’t Know Enough About The Sport To Help Us Be Successful

Date: July 27, 2022

By Verified Athlete

1.4

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

2.0

1.0

2.0

Tags

Accessible Cool Direct Intense Cares About Academics

"I have a good relationship with my coach but after two years me and my teammates have been struggling to find success and our coach does not help us succeed as much as we were looking for when we chose the school. "

0

Men's Lacrosse

Dave Cornell

Former Men's Lacrosse Head Coach

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Date: April 10, 2020

By Verified Athlete

1.6

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

2.0

1.0

3.0

Tags

Intense Accessible Cool Direct

"This guy is a head case. Almost nobody on the team enjoyed him whatsoever, complaints everywhere. Loved mind games, made no effort to be friendly to players unless you were his go to guy. "

0

Women's Swimming & Diving

Marc Benvenuti

Women's Swimming & Diving Head Coach

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Date: March 31, 2020

By Verified Athlete

1.2

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

2.0

1.0

Tags

Intense Accessible Cool Direct Knowledgeable

"One of the worst humans. Had hope in the beginning, but this slowly dissipated as his true character became clear. He has little respect for his athletes and their physical/mental wellbeing. He is sexist, treating the boys better than the women. Has no empathy and constantly lies. He can give 10,000 meter sets, but no other coaching or life skills."

0

Women's Campus Visit

Lacrosse

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Date: June 19, 2026

By Athlete

1.7

Overall

Team Dynamic

Host Interaction

Coaching Staff Interaction

Coach Player Interaction

Got To Know Team

3.0

2.0

1.0

Tags

Accessible Intense Direct Cool Knowledgeable

""

0

Women's Facilities

Lacrosse

Connecticut College

NCAA DIII • Western Athletic Conference | WAC

Date: June 19, 2026

By Athlete

1.6

Overall

Cleanliness

Availability

Up To Date

Cool

2.0

1.0

2.0

1.0

Tags

Accessible Intense Direct Cool Knowledgeable

1.8

Weight room

2.7

Locker room

2.0

Training room

1.8

Film room

3.0

Practice Facilities

3.5

Game Day Facilities

""

0

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Connecticut College

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