"In just 2 years she managed to destroy Grifffon softball with only a handful of kids returning from a 25 player roster. Whether she was fired, didn’t get her contract renewed or just quit. The cloud over Missouri Western Softball has finally been lifted and like a bandit in the middle of the night Nicole is gone and is no longer the head coach here. I would say good luck to her in her future endeavors, but she would NEVER be that kind or even a decent person to the kids she left behind."

"I had a really great experience with Coach. She honestly helped me get through this season and encouraged me through all of my ups and downs. There were times when the season was hard, but she always pushed me to keep going and reminded me that I was capable of more than I thought. She can definitely be hard on her pitchers, but I never saw it as her being a terrible coach. To me, it always came from wanting the best out of each of them and knowing what they were capable of. She cared about holding people accountable and helping them grow, even when that meant being tough. I also think it is important to recognize that she had her own ups and downs throughout the season, and I do not believe those were completely her fault. From my perspective, a lot of the conflict came from the head coach not allowing her to fully help, coach, or support the team in the way she was capable of. It felt unfair because when we needed her the most, she was put in a position where her voice and coaching were pushed aside. And for the comment about smoking with her players that is 100% NOT TRUE, she never smoked with her players. Whoever said that is trying to keep her from getting any sort of future job and im sorry but it is completely false. Yes she was close with her players but not to the point where it was unprofessional. She was a role model to me. Overall, I’m thankful for the way she supported me, challenged me, and believed in me throughout the season. She made a positive impact on me, and I really appreciate everything she did. "

"A coach that is truly invested in her girls. Left such an amazing imprint on my kids life. Treats her kids like family! Works very hard to bring success to her program and a winning culture. "

"She is dishonest Reeks of weed and smokes with players… just one Not a nice person Talks about players behind their backs Has favorites who don’t deserve the chances given You can strike out 8 out of 10 times and still get to bat while others never get a chance and she thinks that is great. A few home runs is not worth out after out She must have a degree in gaslighting she excels at it So save yourself and stay away She is supposed to be a pitching coach but we all had to deal with her ruined the team "

"Just say no! Would not recommend. You do not want to play for this coach. The assistant coach was worse, she was fired, so you won’t have to worry about her anymore, but you have been warned. I played for this coach and she was never positive or encouraging. Trust me, she changed none of us for the better. "

"After spending time at Missouri Western with Coach Nicole Thompson I do not recommend this program to anyone. Coach Thompson is not a good coach or a good person. The top four reasons for my negative review of Coach Thompson and her program are: 1) Coach Thompson is emotionally unstable. The leader of a 25 to 30 person college softball program can’t be the most emotionally unhinged person in that program. The head coach needs to be the rock of stability and lead by example. Coach Thompson would get over the top happy after wins but would sink to unimaginable lows after losses. She chased umpires off the field after a loss when close calls didn’t go her way. When the team lost she would be hysterically crying in team huddles on the field after games. On road trips she would still be uncontrollably sobbing at team dinners after losses. Many times after practice she was seen just crying in her car. Coach Thompson’s mother had to call her on road trips to tell her that after watching her on TV during games she found her behavior to be completely unacceptable, I agree with her mom. She just isn’t emotionally mature enough to be a college coach let alone a head coach. 2) The Favorites and The Blame Game- As mentioned by other reviews Nicole Thompson plays favorites. All losses need to have someone on the team to blame for the loss and it certainly is never her fault or the fault of the favorites. After one loss she directly blamed the girl who was the teams best and most effective pitcher. It caused a massive disturbance within the team resulting in several team meetings to address. The team was never the same afterwards and spiraled from the best start in school history to a 9th place finish in the conference. The concept that they would win or lose as a team is totally foreign to Nicole Thompson. 3) Nicole Thompson is a poor coach. Calling her a coach is a bit of a misnomer. She is a Softball Team Manager. I never witnessed her coaching someone up, only negative comments after the play. Most Head Coach’s can either coach pitchers or hitters or sometimes both. She doesn’t help either hitters or pitchers. She had a pitching coach on staff but took pitch calling duties from her 2/3 of the way thru the season. Instead of calling pitches herself she gave that job to the catchers. Team record before this decision was 24-8 and the record after this decision was 8-10. She doesn’t coach hitters either. The favorites got hitting help from her husband everyone else was on their own. She might publicly disparage your hitting but was unable to offer advice or help on how to fix it. 4) Nicole Thompson is not an honest person. If she is recruiting you whatever she tells you is almost certainly not true. The program was littered with girls who felt they had been misled by her both during the recruitment process and during the two seasons she has been here. She is an extremely poor communicator. She obviously does not believe in herself as a coach if she does not feel comfortable telling kids the truth about their role in the program. Her lack of integrity is a massive factor in the poor team culture at Missouri Western. "

"Anyone who states that she was just helping you grow as a player is a flat out lie. Growth should not come from public humiliation, I understand letting a coach do their job, but when it comes to talking crap about other players behind their backs that is not coaching. This does genuinely come from a lack of care. She does not care about "your potential as a player", she sees you as a number on the field and that's it. No matter the setback or "injuries" she does not care about you as a person. Even if you're looking for a coach who will push you or challenge you out of your comfort zone, go elsewhere. There are ways to coach to push you without destroying your mental and physical health. Still do not expect college athletics to be easy, but do not come here when the coach only sees you as a player on the field to help her better the record (which is at a consistent downfall). She does not help the players or the team succeed, especially enabling team members to look down on others as well- though the main issue players have now graduated. "

"Coach Jessica Berg is a coach who genuinely cares about both the success of her team and the individual growth of her players. She also places a strong emphasis on having fun and creating a positive environment for her players. Throughout my time at Missouri Western, we often butted heads and did not always see eye to eye. She is very direct and blunt in her communication style, and at times her words can come across as harsh. However, I believe that underneath that approach is a coach who wants her players to improve, be accountable, and reach their full potential. One of the more challenging parts of my experience came when I was injured and unable to play for an extended period of time. During that process, I often felt that I had to advocate for myself and that more empathy could have been shown. At times, it felt like there was a disconnect between what I was experiencing and what was being expected of me. Looking back, though, I do not believe that came from a lack of care. I think Coach Berg's instinct was to push me because she believed I was capable of more and did not want me to lose sight of my potential as a player. I also think it was difficult for her to fully relate to what I was going through because she had not personally experienced an injury of that magnitude as an athlete. While there were certainly moments when I wished for a different approach, I can appreciate that her intentions came from wanting me to continue growing despite the setback. From a coaching standpoint, Coach Berg has a strong understanding of the game of lacrosse. She is constantly evaluating what is and is not working and is willing to make adjustments when needed. She puts a lot of thought into developing new drills and finding solutions to problems rather than simply accepting them. She also values player input and is willing to listen to suggestions from her athletes, which helps create an environment where players feel like they have a voice within the program. Coach Berg holds her players to high standards and expects effort, accountability, and commitment. Her coaching style may not be for everyone, and some players will connect with it more naturally than others. However, there is no question that she is invested in the success of her athletes and wants them to become the best versions of themselves both on and off the field. For prospective student-athletes considering Missouri Western, I would encourage you to understand the type of environment you are joining. If you are looking for a coach who will challenge you, push you beyond your comfort zone, and expect you to take ownership of your development, Coach Berg can provide that experience. While the journey may not always be easy, you will have a coach who believes in your ability to grow and who is committed to helping both the team and its players succeed."

"As someone who played under Coach Berg, I would strongly encourage athletes to consider all aspects of the program before committing. One of the most concerning issues is the number of injuries within the team. For a relatively small roster, the number of significant injuries is alarming, at times, we have experienced more major injuries than the football team. During practices, overly aggressive and dangerous play between teammates (one in particular) often went unaddressed. Even when we told Coach Berg about this player and how we would let her get the ball at practice because we did not want to injure ourselves, nothing was done. In some cases, it seemed as though this behavior was not only tolerated but encouraged, creating an environment where player safety was not prioritized. Having experienced multiple roles on the team as a starter, a bench player, and on IR, I witnessed firsthand how differently players could be treated depending on their perceived value to Coach Berg. As a starter, I was acknowledged and she would go out of her way to talk to me. Once injuries limited my ability to play, or she simply decided not to play me, she would not even make eye contact with me. Favoritism was another issue that negatively impacted the team culture. When several players raised concerns about unequal treatment, those concerns were dismissed and even laughed off. Despite claims that no favorites existed, the differences in how certain athletes were treated were obvious to many of us. In an individual meeting where this was brought to her attention, she stated that "it's just so funny that you think those are my favorites because you're just so wrong on who they are". These favorites had more opportunities and playing time based more on Berg's personal preference rather than performance. I was even told by previous assistant coaches that if they had a say in the lineup, I would have played over said favorites. This was especially frustrating when Berg consistently emphasized the importance of winning while not putting the strongest lineup on the field. With this, assistant coaches struggle under Coach Berg's leadership. Staff turnover is frequent, and several assistants seemed unable to make meaningful contributions because their input was not valued. New coaches every single year should be a major red flag, especially since coaching jobs are slightly niche in the higher level of play. The team environment suffered as a result of these issues. We used to be a very close team; all trauma bonded every single day at practice and were brought together by a combined hatred for Coach Berg. BUT as the ones who kept the power hungry in check, graduated or transferred, bullying and toxic behavior among players often went unchecked, which contributed to a fractured team culture. When concerns were brought forward by multiple athletes, the response was "Why do we give her (the problem player) the power?" rather than addressing the underlying behavior. How are we as teammates supposed to shut down a person that thinks that they are always right and is so rude to other people it affects the whole team? This person was also able to have their minions in a group and all that they would do was crap talk every single person on the team, and nothing was done by Coach Berg to stop it. Beyond the team dynamics, the physical and mental demands placed on athletes are overwhelming. I personally suffered multiple injuries, including two requiring surgeries. On one occasion, I was pressured to continue playing despite being injured, which ultimately led to a complete tear of my quad. Injuries became so common that they felt almost expected. Even when strength and conditioning staff recommended reducing the amount of running, these recommendations were not taken seriously. Instead, decisions were often justified by comparisons to Coach Berg's own collegiate experience and "that's not how we did it at Regis", regardless of how athletes were responding physically. For many players, the cumulative mental and physical toll of the program diminished their love for the sport. It is not surprising that so many athletes have chosen to transfer or step away from collegiate lacrosse altogether. In my experience, the lack of concern for player well-being, combined with the team culture and leadership issues, are reasons why prospective athletes should carefully evaluate whether this program is the right fit for them."

"As the parent of a player who has been involved in softball for many years, I can honestly say that my daughter’s experience with this team was unlike any we have encountered before. Unfortunately, much of the season was overshadowed by ongoing drama, much of which appeared to originate within the coaching staff. The level of immaturity and lack of professionalism displayed by the coaching staff was deeply disappointing. In our experience, Coach Thompson seemed to prioritize winning above all else, often at the expense of the players’ health, overall well-being and development. Accountability was also a recurring concern, as responsibility for issues was frequently shifted elsewhere rather than addressed directly. Overall, we felt the coaching lacked the maturity, stability, leadership, honesty, and knowledge necessary to effectively guide and support young athletes at this level. I would also like to mention how disappointing Senior Night was for the girls and their families. Regardless of the weather, the dinner portion of the evening was always expected to take place, yet the event appeared poorly planned and unprepared. Basic items such as tablecloths, plates, utensils, and sufficient beverages were either missing or extremely limited. There was no main meal provided, and most if not all of the food served — macaroni salad, rolls, a vegetable and dip tray, a cheese tray and several desserts — had been brought by parents. The parents were to bring a side or dessert to go with the meal, which was NEVER provided. No explanation was ever given; only a brief “thanks for coming.” The few plates available ran out almost immediately, the single gallon of water was gone before most people had even eaten, and because no silverware was provided, dips and macaroni salad simply sat untouched. Many families either chose not to eat or improvised by using napkins, paper towels from the restroom, or container lids as plates. Had the coaches communicated any needs beforehand, I am confident the parents would have gladly helped provide what was necessary. Most importantly, it was heartbreaking to watch the seniors receive such a disorganized and underwhelming send-off after the time, effort, and dedication they had given to the program. "

"Did not enjoy playing this year she does not care about the players except a few doesn’t even give you a chance also everything during recruitment was a lie She talks about players behind their back. "

"Coach Nicole helped bring the love of the game back to me! She is a competitor in every aspect but loves her team. She cares about all her players on and off the field, believes in them, builds confidence and would do anything to help her players. "

"Coach Steff knows softball, but is the most unprofessional coach I’ve ever played for. She talks negatively about the players behind their backs, with other players and Coach Nicole, who does the same.She is immature and is not capable of coaching at this level.She is extremely negative to the players. Instead of trying to give encouragement, she points out every mistake and never gives praise for a job well done. She seems to thrive on tearing the players down. She also lacks integrity. "

"Coach Nicole has zero communication skills, she takes no responsibility for anything, she will turn every single thing around on everyone but her. She has basic knowledge about softball and unless you are one of her favorites you can forget getting any help or guidance. She throws tantrums like a child, cusses constantly, talks about all the players behind our backs to the other players. Don’t tell her anything personal, because she will immediately tell other players. She is the queen of the silent treatment, if we did anything wrong, strike out, make an error, throw a bad pitch, you would get the silent treatment for days! She ruined softball for all of us. Just look at the turn over on the team. Half the team had countdowns on our phones counting down the days until we were done! She also came to us crying about this site, because she found out about it on March 29th, so all the good ones on that date you can bet are from her family, they aren’t real! "

"In a time when women’s athletics is being elevated by leaders like Caitlin Clark, Ilona Maher, and A’ja Wilson, athletes who embody confidence, strength, and mutual support, this program feels out of step. Under Coach Berg, the culture appears to fall short of uplifting female athletes. Instead of building unity and celebrating each other’s success, the environment seems to foster division, where players are set against one another rather than strengthened as a team. There also seems to be a clear lack of open, constructive communication. When athletes don’t feel comfortable speaking honestly or supporting one another without concern for repercussions, it limits both trust and performance. Strong coaching should elevate and instill confidence, connection, and a shared purpose. That standard does not appear to be met in this program. "

"Jessica Berg’s performance as a coach raises serious concerns. From a competitive standpoint, the team’s staggering losses highlight a lack of preparation, in-game adjustment, and strategic adaptability. At this level of play, outcomes like these point to deeper systemic issues. More concerning, however, is the environment surrounding the team. Based on firsthand observation, there appears to be a significant lack of psychological safety. Players do not feel empowered to speak up, advocate for themselves, or communicate openly without fear of negative consequences. That kind of culture directly limits growth, performance, and long-term success. There also appears to be a pattern of dismissing or minimizing athlete health and recovery needs. When players feel pressured to participate despite injuries or without proper medical clearance, it not only impacts performance, it risks their well-being. A strong program should prioritize athlete safety, trust the expertise of medical professionals, and foster collaboration across the care team. Leadership in collegiate athletics extends beyond wins and losses. It includes creating an environment where athletes feel supported, respected, and psychologically safe. Without that foundation, even the most talented teams will struggle to succeed. It is disappointing that this culture has been allowed to persist, as it ultimately impacts the development, health, and experience of the athletes involved."

"Jessica Berg is unfit and not worthy of having the title Coach in front of her name. Her lacrosse and coaching knowledge is so limited that her team lost 0-22 against Maryville this season. Statistically, a DII goalie achieving a shutout is a rarity, occurring in less than 1% of games. During that game she made zero adjustments to her play calling and defensive strategy. It is baffling that with all of her access to film, stats, box scores, and scouting reports that she entered into that game so ill-equipped. To make matters worse, instead of focusing on her players after their devastating loss, she cried. A grown woman, whose full-time job is to coach, guide, prepare, and teach her athletes how to act in victory, and defeat, wept from embarrassment. There is a litany of examples of her lack of coaching competency, but the most egregious incompetency is the psychological damage and trauma that are a direct result of her “coaching.” I have witnessed first hand her toxicity. She refuses to accommodate and prioritize her athletes’ health. As a result, the team is plagued with injuries, multiple of them requiring surgical repair. Instead of listening to the players, athletic trainers, physicians, and strength and conditioning coaches’ requests to rest and recover, she chastises, belittles, and demeans her players through her snide, backhanded remarks, or punitive consequences for not being able to participate. She ignores protocols and forces her athletes to participate in activities they’re not medically cleared to do. She has cultivated a culture of fear. Fear of being punished for getting injured. Fear of being accosted by her passive-aggressive behavior. Fear of being ostracized for not engaging in religious practices she mandates before games. Fear of being gaslighted. It is an absolute disgrace that MWSU administrators have allowed hundreds of talented women to be subjected to her malfeasance. "

"No charisma. Extremely reactive to the point of it being a personal problem or medical condition. Can’t keep a staff due to being difficult to work with. Does not respect personal information shared in private one on one meetings with players. Shouts obscenities at players on the field during games for mistakes. Attempts to embarrass umpires. Very unprofessional coach. Difficult to understand how he is employed in 2026. He was not retained by Western Missouri when a new AD arrived in 2024 I witnessed all of these behaviors and researched his background. Respect yourself and go somewhere else. "

"Playing for Coach Thompson was the most rewarding experience of my life!!! She will always be a mentor and inspiration to me! "

"She is an extremely competitive coach who is willing to do whatever it takes to win. She builds strong, positive relationships with her players and creates an environment based on trust and respect. She makes sure every player is given a chance to show what they can do, which pushes everyone to work hard and improve. She also genuinely cares about her athletes not just on the field, but off it as well, supporting them as both players and individuals."

"Always willing to help and listen to her athletes. Cares about players on and off the field. Creates a competitive, uplifting, and right knit culture. There is a reason they are making history as a program this year. Great players, great coaching. "

"Cares about her players. Wants to win. Knowledgable about softball. Great coach "

"She's a competitor and wants to win, she's very clear in that. But she could care less about you if you're not producing for her. She has an "open door policy" which is so far from the truth. Creates an environment filled with drama, gossiping, and favorites. "

"Worst decision I have made as a parent with supporting my daughter in her lacrosse career. Berg is an awful human being and worse coach. She has taken my daughter and ruined her confidence as a person and has ruined the sport of Lacrosse. I hope players and parents see this and can make wise choices when deciding to attend college as a lacrosse athlete. Pick a better school and please for the sake of your daughter mental health a better coach. I say this and my daughter was a starter on the team so not bitter bench player parent but mad that Berg has put my daughter in a depression state of mind. Not ok and shame on you Jessica Berg. "

"Has favorites, doesn’t know much about softball. Relies on her husband to help with swings. Can be a good person to help recruit and get good players. "