"If you’re not from Illinois, don’t bother trying to join his team. All I can say. "

"Highly suggest to avoid. Was never a real player beyond a high school benchwarmer on a bad team. Went to U of I as basketball manager/video coordinator for the worst tenure in U of I history. Can only coach based on watching video, doesn’t have the actual in game knowledge or experience. He doesn’t understand Chicago/suburbs when it comes to basketball and people. On a personal level, he plays favorites. If he dislikes you, you will know immediately in his treatment. Dishonest based on his ability to play favorites, it feels like a little league dad coaching his son. He also tries to involve himself in 20 year olds personal lives."

"Favoritism at the teams demise "

"When recruited was told a ton of lies - she plays huge favoritism and benches loads of talent to help her favorites succeed..horrible college experience "

"Do not allow your son to play for this coach! He's a former mediocre ego-centric D3 goalie and DI coach who is clueless about modern day soccer. He knows nothing about what it means to be a true leader even though he'll lie to you as a parent about what he believes in, in order to get your money for the school. And unless you believe in having your boy experience the opposite of the type of man you want them to become, Kyle will never be the right coach for your son. It's a complete farce that he's on the school's mental health team. Schauls is a joke of a coach and is absolutely not a teacher."

"She favors players that don’t deserve it..benches loads of talent not letting them succeed as they should. Once she passes judgement on you you are done - no matter what"

"He gets an idea of who you are as a freshman and sticks that label on you for your entire career even if you develop yourself. Speaking of development: nonexistent. The practices are long, monotonous, and counter productive. He is very derogatory and does no uplifting of his players. He will yell at you across the field in the middle of the game and if you are on the mound. He makes players tense which leads to poor performance. He has absolutely no knowledge of the game and has lost more games than he has won by doing too much. In a game of rhythm in failure, he doesn’t allow players to do either. I have no idea how he even got this job, let alone kept it for as long as he did. He’s retiring, good riddance."

"This dude has emotional problems, is unstable and is the clostest thing to a con man coach there is. He knows nothing about the sport and I dont blame him he was a goalie! "

"Kyle Schauls, is not a soccer coach or a coach for that matter. A Coach is someone who understands the game, who understands the need for change of tactics on the field and makes those adjustment, and who practices players with the ball on their foot 100% of the time to keep those technical skills sharp, and also one who mentors and motivates players growth on and off the field. Kyle struggles greatly with executing all of that. Kyle, was a goalie player back in the 80’s. His experience of play, specifically on the field is little to nothing and it shows thru in all he does. Do your research. Kyle has had some good assistant coaches who have been able pick up his slack technical and tactical areas in practice, but he does not let them help with the field. If you do your research you will find that these assistant coaches (AC) who come on, (and players gravitate to them due to their knowledge of soccer and skills), tend to leave the program prior to their two year contract ends (all AC’s are on staff only for 2 years…which is also an issue in itself). If the AC does stay the full two years, they are either miserable, or conform to his coaching style which is long ball to the corner, over the midfield players to then be crossed to the middle tallest forward for a header into the net…over and over and over again. He does not trust the technical skills of his players and therefore launches the ball high. In past years, announcers from other schools during games have even said “oh here we go again this year, Coach Schauls long ball to the corner…”. Yes a repeated game plan as other reviews have identified. In addition to this, as others have commented, his coaching style is old school militant. He disciplines by making players run 100’s of laps while practice is taking place (without the ball…what? Wouldn’t a ball at the foot of a soccer player during this discipline be at least a good thing?). Kyle took a personal matter that happened outside the soccer program last season, and took it upon himself to discipline a player without the approval of the athletic department. He was suspended for that and a few other reports that came in to the AD regarding discipline/treatment of players. In the end after investigation they decided to let him stay. It was a wrong decision. The program will never grow because of him, and players will continue to suffer and lose their love for the game, and leave. If you want to join a stress filled program…this is your place. If you don’t, play elsewhere. ~ an honest parent of a starter. "

"I've watched this program for 5 years. Kyle should not be a head coach at a university. Kyle needs to develop himself under a knowledgeable coach who could help him see the game differently than he does from his grooming as a career goalie. Kyle drives the best players from the roster. If his strategy is questioned at all, he will punish a player. He also takes personal vendettas that develop from off-pitch circumstances and punishes players with soccer discipline. For the 2023 season, 2 all-conference caliber players have elected to return to the school but gave up soccer rather than play for this man. Here is a solid indication of who he is: freshman players like him. Sophomores become cautious. Juniors are buried by his negative vibe. And if you are around for 4 years, it's just too much - you are buried on the roster, you transfer, or you give up playing. Save your son from this program. "

"Her program is designed to favor all local players. They take precendence - no matter what. You could be the all star but if a local player wants your spot they get it. IF you are local well you've got it made - go for it - you'll get to be a starter and not even have to earn it. Enormous mental and emotional abuse. Fake "nice" to your face will stabbing you in the back. I would have never played here had a know what a miserable playing experience it was going to be. Extreme division amongst players is supported and favorite players are allowed to break the rules with no consequence. There is no "team" culture. Don't believe the lies - do your research."

"Was one of his high priority recruits according to the Pantagraph (local newspaper). Got there got a concussion, was told “how far is it from your heart”. When I sat out for a few days due to protocol I never got a chance to compete again even though I was taking starter reps before. I’ve seen him promise things to players, cost them opportunities for his selfish gain. Players have died due to him restricting water in the past. Sad that IWU hasn’t replaced him by now. Old 80s and 90s mentally and will never change. When I finally quit I tried to promise me everything and an opportunity but couldn’t even call me by my real name which just showed how little he actually cared. If you are a minority you know how he treats you different from non minorities. "

"Totally outdated knowledge of the game considering his qualifications for the job revolved around being a basketball coach. Very few players respect him simply due to his everyday remarks and terminology at practice. He has rode prior success simply due to the schools unique location and academics offered. As time has progressed and people have begun to realize this, the program has been downhill since. There is simply no culture and it’s said because with the right leader many of these prior teams could have experienced real success."

"Coach Schauls is a man of strong belief in his values. He believes in these values so strongly that he is not open to seeing the other side of a story. As a result, he comes off very holier than thou. He is quick to judge, often times wrongly. He coaches with vitriol and negative psychology with very little positive reinforcement. Some would say that this coaching style is old school and character building. I would agree accept he shows no compassion or caring for the majority of his players. Even old school hard nose coaches show they care. Coach Schauls playing style is very Stoke City. It is direct long ball soccer. If you are a possession based player, this team is not for you no matter what he tells you during recruitment. On that note, he does not recruit for his playing style and many players who are possession based players find themselves very disappointed when they play for the team. Like Stoke City he plays the odds that long balls driven into the box will eventually lead to a goal. Midfielders are simply there for ball recovery and often find themselves watching balls flying over head from the center backs. He also has a habit of making 6 player line substitutions which is frankly baffling. Player development is completely absent unless you consider booting the ball a skill to be developed. Player feedback is inconsistent and so confusing many very good players end up looking horrible as they end up second guessing everything they do on the field. Overall, I feel Coach Schauls may be a good person but he is a subpar soccer coach who has created a very toxic team culture. Players who dare to provide feedback for growth are shunned and quickly relegated to the sidelines. "

"This man has created a toxic culture and is indiscriminately punitive to players. He has permitted team bullying while being a bully himself. On top of that, he lacks skills around player development and game strategy. He should immediately be removed. "

"Not very understanding of situations. Treats athletes as expendable due to high numbers."

"He seems amazing when he recruits you, but doesn’t care once you are on the team. Old school in the wrong ways. Treats freshman as expendable. Does not treat injuries and concussions seriously. Most people quit the football team within a couple years, and the ones who stay just love the sport so much that they can stand the coach. "

"Terrible coach. Knows nothing about the game of baseball and his philosophies on hitting are outdated by about 50 years. The game is changing and he will not change with it because he is too self absorbed and stubborn. He complicates and simplifies baseball on a spectrum that reaches infinity both ways. No one on his roster has an ounce of respect for him and most wonder why he still has a job. "

"The coach doesn’t have much respect and understanding. Coach’s style is old school but not a good type of old school. The team culture is pretty poor."

"Doesn’t care about players"

"Extremely egotistical and nothing can ever be his fault. Losing a game? It’s the players fault regardless of how well they were playing or who the opponent is. Doesn’t take accountability for his extreme lack of soccer knowledge and expects that players conform their play style to suit his tactics when in reality he encourages a kickball game instead of real soccer. Holds grudges and will bench kids for full seasons, even if they are the clear starter, if they disagree with him in any way or show any sign they aren’t conforming to fit his game. He creates an extremely toxic environment to be a part of both on and off the field and expects that players love to play and enjoy coming to practice everyday despite his horrible tactics and useless drills. He has constant outbursts during practice and games using profanity directed at his players, degrading towards everyone and pins everything on the team. He says rhat these outbursts are him “demanding excellence” when majority of the time the issue will be the formation, style of play that he asked of his players, or the personnel he put on the field that lose games, all of which are responsibilities of the coach. Overall horrible experience and terrible coach. Wouldn’t wish it upon anyone to play for him as he ruins players and their love for the game year after year. "

"Has high expectations which is good. Wants the players to be connected which is also good. Has poor communication, makes it seem as he doesn't believe in us, is not a leader, hard to get a long with, does not care about the players, most importantly he does not respect the players. Overall a negative person."

"Needs to learn how to adapt to the game and it isn’t the 90’s or 00’s anymore. Also needs to hang it up because he has Been there too long And IWU needs a young presence "

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