Curry College

"awful"

"This program destroyed my mental health more than it ever built me up as an athlete. Alex constantly blames players for the problems within the program while using “mental health” conversations as a way to manipulate, twist your words, and put you down. Instead of supporting athletes, those conversations leave you feeling like you are the issue every single time. In the last 6 years alone, she has reportedly been “investigated” at least 3 times, yet nothing ever changes. The administration continues to protect the program instead of addressing the damage being done to players. The positive reviews feel completely fake and forced. Reviews are literally seen printed out on the athletic director’s desk, and suddenly the next day positive reviews appear online to bury the negative ones and cover up issues the school clearly does not want to deal with. When over 20 girls quit the program and the response is that it’s somehow a reflection of the players themselves, that only proves everyone’s point further. Numbers are facts. That many athletes do not walk away from a healthy environment for no reason. The environment Alex creates, fosters, and the school administration allows further proves they do not value their athletes as people, only as replaceable. What makes it even worse is that because Alex works in mental health, she knows exactly how to use her words to manipulate conversations and constantly twist yours until you feel like you are the problem. This was the worst experience I have ever had in sports and something I will carry with me long after softball."

"One of the hardest parts about this experience was realizing the issue went beyond just one coach. When multiple athletes continuously speak up about feeling unsupported, fearful, or emotionally drained, and nothing changes, it creates the message that player wellbeing matters less than protecting a program’s image. Over time, that silence becomes part of the culture itself. College athletics are supposed to develop confidence, leadership, and passion for the game. Instead, many players left feeling disconnected from a sport they once loved. That should concern any school that truly values its athletes."

"Over the past several years, the same concerns about Curry softball and Coach Alex Campione have been raised repeatedly by athletes, parents, and former players. Different people, from different graduating classes and experiences, continue describing the same environment: fear-based coaching, manipulation, favoritism, emotional exhaustion, and players losing their love for the game. More than 20 athletes have reportedly transferred, quit, or mentally checked out of the program during her tenure. At some point, that stops being a coincidence or a “playing time issue” and becomes a reflection of the culture surrounding the program itself. College athletics are supposed to challenge athletes while also helping them grow with confidence, support, and respect. Many former players instead describe leaving anxious, defeated, and emotionally drained. What also stands out is the complete lack of accountability despite repeated complaints being brought to administration. Multiple players have stated they spoke up asking for help, yet nothing meaningfully changed. A program should never make athletes feel ignored or disposable. At the end of the day, results matter too. The program has struggled competitively for years while also facing ongoing concerns about culture and player well-being. When both the on-field results and player experiences point in the same direction, it becomes clear this is not simply a few disgruntled athletes. It is a pattern that deserves to be taken seriously."