"Fred Chao ruined my love for volleyball. I don’t want to get into too much detail to keep my identity private, however, if there was a problem you would have 3/4 ganging up on you in a conference room. I was unable to defend myself and he showed me time and time again his players were not valuable to him. I wish he would do better as a coach and care more."

"As a former player under Coach T and now an assistant coach, I’ve experienced the early stages of something special taking shape. ODU may not be a winning team yet, but the foundation is being laid and that’s often the hardest part. Rebuilding a program takes more than talent; it takes culture, consistency, and a willingness to face hard truths. This team is learning how to compete, how to respond to failure, and how to push forward. The wins will come, but the culture shift is already underway. This is an underdog team right now and players deciding to commit to ODU need to realize that before committing. Coach T isn’t afraid to hold players accountable. In a time when tough love is often misread, she continues to challenge athletes to grow through adversity, not avoid it. Her honest feedback, high standards, and refusal to settle are exactly what this program needs to turn the corner. I personally preferred tough love style of coaching when I played, but I know some players can’t handle that type of leadership style b/c they never had that at home. Coaches now have to be mindful of the gentle coaching era and adapt their styles to athletes that need that type of style. That being said most of my teammates wanted the tough love style from Coach T b/c it made us better at lacrosse. That intensity is balanced by intentional time away from lacrosse to disconnect, reset, and stay fresh b/c building a strong team also means taking care of the people in it. If that mix of tough love and recovery time isn’t your jam, then ODU might not be the place for you. But if you're ready to be coached hard, supported fully, and grow on and off the field, then there's no better program to be part of. Just make sure you bring that underdog mentality. Underdogs don’t have perfect records….YET. That have to scrap and build despite the naysayers. The players that join now contribute to turning the tide. They might not get to experience the full glory of a JMU type of record b/c that takes time – 10 years to be exact. Again, hard truth. I still to this day keep in touch with Coach T and I know that if I picked up the phone to call her on a personal or professional note, she’d be there. I learned a lot under her watch and I hope the hard work starts to pay off for ODU lax. Side note that I've come to realize as a coach...this field isn't for the faint of heart. You really have to have tough skin bc there will always be people that aren't satisfied with your style as a coach. Can't please everybody. "

"If you have this awful coaches back, you are a part of the problem too. This program is being ruined by her and toxicity. "

"Trusting someone else with your child especially during such a pivotal time in their life is no small thing. From day one, Coach T has earned that trust through honesty, consistency, and genuine care for her players. Our family has had some tough conversations with her about playing time, academic expectations, the challenges of being far from home, and even the realities of the transfer portal. Not once did she shy away from the truth. She’s direct, but always respectful and compassionate. What we’ve come to appreciate most about Coach T is her candor. She doesn’t sugarcoat things just to keep everyone comfortable. She speaks with purpose and with the athlete’s long-term growth in mind. When our daughter struggled with homesickness her first year, Coach T didn’t brush it off. She leaned in, stayed supportive, and helped her work through it while still holding her accountable to the standards of the program. Coach T is building more than a team...she’s building strong, resilient young women. And while the wins may not be here yet, they will come with time. We’re grateful for a coach who sees the whole person, not just the player. "

"As an in-conference coach, I know how demanding this level of lacrosse can be...recruiting, retaining, developing talent, and managing the emotional ups and downs of 18- to 22-year-olds and their snowplow parents (google it). It’s not easy to rebuild a program in today’s landscape, but Theresa is doing it the right way. She coaches with a level of honesty and structure that’s becoming harder to find. In an era where managing feelings often takes precedence over confronting performance, she’s struck a rare balance of holding players accountable while still creating space for them to grow, fail, and regroup. That’s what it takes at this level. You can’t build a competitive team without addressing the hard stuff: roles, minutes, academics, mental health, the transfer portal....it all matters. And Theresa doesn’t shy away from any of it. You can see the shift at ODU...They're more fit, more fight, more discipline, more buy-in. It’s clear Theresa's players are being coached, not just managed. That kind of culture doesn’t show up overnight, but it’s exactly how long-term success is built. "

"he picks and chooses who he cares about and treats as a person instead of a number"

"he picks and chooses who he cares about and treats as a person instead of a number"

"The team does not perform to its capabilities under Teresa's leadership. They lose to less talented teams because she brings them down both mentally and physically. Teresa creates unhealthy environments for student athletes. Players and parents should consider ODU only as a last option. I believe in objective evaluations, so let's start with the items that have gotten a little better. Teresa was less verbally abusive to the team this year than the previous two. There were still incidents, like a 90 minute tirade following a close loss where she got outcoached in the second half and attempting to gaslight the team into feel guilty about losing a different game she chose to be at rather than attending a family funeral. It got worse once they got past the ridiculously easy schedule (avg RPI of teams they beat was 112) and the realities of AAC conference play sunk in. Plus Teresa was likely on best behavior early on as it was a contact year plus she finished 2024 with a DUI suspension after lying to the team face to face about it. This year was still a dumpster fire, but maybe just not a four alarm dumpster fire like '24. Most of Teresa's demeaning rants include very specific language about how once the players she recruits get to ODU, she and "her players" will be competing for national championships. In fairness, her first class was solid with two Freshman playing in all 17 games this year and having positive impact. Impressive, but both Freshman entered the portal immediately after the season. Not because of playing time (obviously) but due to coaching, culture and health. Top players leaving the program has quickly become a pattern. In '24 Teresa ran their top middie into the ground physically and mentally during the fall and early Spring. That player entered the portal as a result and started 13 games for an ACC program this season. The Freshman departures, plus the loss of a senior class that galvanized and delivered despite being completely alienated by Teresa leaves he Monarchs in a really tough spot heading into 2026. Getting talent is one thing. Keeping that talent and ensuring they are ready to do their best is a very different story. There are good coaches out there. Ones that know the game, how to mentally and physically take care of their players, build a team culture and make adjustments when necessary. ECU is a great example of a comparable program on the rise with a great head coach hire. Unfortunately Teresa isn't there right now. Maybe in a few years if she goes back to assisting, gains some humility and perspective and commits to improving she'll be ready for another shot. But as this point, she should not be leading ODU or any other program. "

"If you are giving Theresa a 5-star rating you need a reality check. If you think that she has had the best season yet this is not true. She set the schedule to be extremely easy. They technically did worse than they did last year. This year they lost to Mount who we usually can beat, they lost to Robert Morris and Furman who we should beat especially if we are even going to compete in the AAC. They still have not made a conference tournament appearance, still did not beat ECU, Temple, and JMU and had worse goal margins compared to last year. Yes, they did win their first conference game against Charlotte but then Charlotte beat USF and USF qualified for the tournament as a 1ST YEAR program. There is no more excuses Theresa. This program is going completely backwards and now that they have lost some of their best players (AGAIN) to the transfer portal this should really be a huge wake-up call to current players, ODU administration, and fans. These are just the facts, all of these 5-star ratings are just pity parties for Theresa. She shows time and time again she cannot control her emotions and takes it out on her players and costs them games constantly. "

"Coach Theresa Walton is hands down one of the worst people and coach I have ever met. It is alarming how quick she is to have one of her minions come onto here to preach BS about this toxic, manipulative, immature, and insecure coach immediately after someone speaks their TRUTH about her. ODU athletic department is not doing a great job they’re actually doing what they always do - a horrible one. If you know anything about AD Wood Selig you will know why Theresa Walton got her second chance. "

"Worst coach I’ve ever played for. Very short tempered, lacks communication, and holds players to different standards depending on how much she likes you. Overall just not a good person on and off the field. She can be very deceiving. Not honest at all. It’s a shame that ODU keeps this coach around after the endless amounts of complaints and athletes that have transferred out just from being bullied by her. She should NOT be in charge of a team. "

"Coach T has masterfully guided her program through a remarkable transformation. After years of tough seasons since 2017, her steady leadership, relentless work ethic, and belief in long-term growth have started to pay off. This season’s painful climb towards success is a testament to her vision and the patience it takes to rebuild a program from six feet under. What once was a struggling team is now one that is working towards a winning roster—a team that is going to have to embrace working harder than everyone else in the American conference just to have a chance at competing at that level. If players aren't up for embracing the grind, working hard, and pushing through non-conventional norms then this isn't the program for you --- Coach T deserves every bit of credit for turning the tide and proving that with time, trust, and determination, real change is possible. It's good to see ODU athletic department staying the course and ignoring the noise. "

"Coach T is a bully and does not know how to motivate a team. She uses fear tactics and is constantly telling the team if they complain to compliance she will find out and if they don’t like her they should leave. She also constantly tells them how bad they are. She berated the team for 90 minutes after a tough loss right before they had to take a 9+ hour bus ride? She is constantly pinning the team against each other. She divides the team into separate groups and keeps points? How does that create unity? The starters watch the bench condition for 30-45 minutes after game day. They sit and watch?? All the best players are entering the portal. The school refuses to listen and doesn’t seem to care enough about women’s lacrosse. "

"Anyone who knows Coach Theresa Walton beyond the sidelines, beyond the stats, and beyond the headlines understands one thing: she is not only an incredibly capable lacrosse coach but a genuinely kind, committed, and principled person. Coach Walton doesn’t just understand Division I lacrosse—she lives it. More importantly, she’s committed to developing her players off the field. She’s the type of coach who will drop everything when one of her athletes calls with a concern. That level of dedication is rare. Yes, people are entitled to their opinions online. But attacking someone’s character from a distance—especially through the lens of helicopter parenting or post-graduation bitterness—lacks maturity and perspective. If I had to guess, some of the negativity stems from a culture shift where, unfortunately, women tear down other women out of insecurity or jealousy. We should be lifting each other up, especially in tough seasons—not piling on when someone’s already learning a hard lesson. This is a brutal profession. Anyone who’s coached, played, or administered in the D1 space knows that. So let’s remind ourselves: “He or she who is without sin among you, let them be the first to throw a stone.” Spend just five minutes with Theresa, and it’s obvious—she goes above and beyond for her athletes. Her coaching style is direct, passionate, and loud—traits often celebrated in male coaches. If she were a man, would we be as fixated on tone or language? Would these personal critiques be the same if they were aimed at legendary coaches like Geno Auriemma (UCONN), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Nick Saban (Alabama), or John Tillman (Maryland men’s lacrosse)? All are known for their vocal, intense coaching styles. Even in women’s sports, you have coaches like the late, Pat Summit (Univ of Tenn), Kim Mulkey (LSU) and Jenny Levy (UNC Women’s Lacrosse) who are unapologetically loud and passionate on the sidelines. They demand excellence. And yet, they too have faced criticism for the very leadership traits that often define greatness. I think this is part of a larger issue - We’ve somehow lost the ability to let our adult children face difficulty on their own. When did it become unacceptable for a coach to give honest, direct feedback? Why are parents stepping in to fight their college-aged children’s battles? This generation deserves the chance to learn resilience—how to deal with challenges, advocate for themselves, and grow through discomfort. That’s how they thrive beyond the field. Since arriving at ODU, Coach Walton has taken on the massive task of rebuilding a culture and program, both on and off the field. That requires patience, talent, and time. Competing in the American Conference demands high-level skill, and it takes time to recruit players who can meet that standard. She’s doing that work—strategically and relentlessly. That bench will continue to grow and gain depth with talented players that can relieve the starters and uphold the lead with confidence and trust. Let’s be clear: this is Division I lacrosse. Players have top-tier resources and a coach who actively seeks to connect and support them every day. Players need to take advantage of that. Speak up with concerns. Show up with grit. Grow and learn from feedback. If they choose not to do the hard work, that’s on them. You won’t always love your head coach—that’s reality. But the players who grow most are the ones who’ve weathered the challenges, who’ve learned to hear hard truths, and who one day look back and say, “Thank you for pushing me.” As a former player, coach, and administrator—and someone who’s worked directly with Coach Walton—I challenge you to pick up the phone and talk to her yourself. I think you’ll walk away with a very different perspective than what’s being circulated on this forum. "

"Anyone who can honestly say this coach makes them a better player or person is fooling themselves. She may have a passion for the sport, but that does not translate into being a good coach. She is not honest (lying directly to her team about getting the DUI), has poor communication, and doesn't seem to understand how to manage her players physically or emotionally. She does not have good game awareness or an awareness of how to take care of her girls for the season. She runs her starting players into the ground and doesn't make adjustments during the game. She does not take any responsibility for losses, it is always someone else's fault and she will berate her players and directly demean girls in front of the entire team. She is negative, and honestly, makes the team play worse. Doesn't know how to lift a team up, but instead tells them that they are a waste of her time. No one would blame these girls for entering the transfer portal, just like so many girls did last year. If you are looking for a positive lacrosse experience in college, I would highly recommend going elsewhere."

"honestly funny seeing Theresa trying to save her career by creating an extremely easy schedule, let's see if they actually win some games. But sadly, with this easy schedule it will not set them up properly to win any of the conference games. Good luck and I wish the players stayed safe this spring who knows what they are in for. Still shocking to me that this woman has her job, ODU should be ashamed. "

"Coach T is 100% dedicated to ODU, its lacrosse program, its players, and its future. She has definitely had some bumps along the way & has been SO very wrongly accused of things, but she keeps going. I have never seen a coach more excited, passionate, and focused on changing a program for the better. She studies the game constantly and works endlessly on a daily basis with every move she makes trying to make ODU Lacrosse better. She took over a program that needed help. When she started developing the program and expecting D1 level athletics out of the players, the players got angry…..as you can see from the majority of the testimonies on here. Coach T doesn’t deserve the treatment the old players & parents have done to her on this site. She asked for better. She asked for D1 level performance, and they fell short. I can’t wait to see what this program accomplishes after a few years when her recruitment and her systems start to shine. She is definitely a serious coach that wants to win, but she is also kind, and fun, and silly. She is honest, and is ALWAYS there for her players both on and off the field. Coach T and ODU was the best decision my daughter ever made. She is a great coach and ODU is a great school! I was so pleasantly surprised at how well all of the athletes are treated at ODU and how dedicated & supportive the Athletic Dept. is to all of their athletes. ODU Athletics is definitely on the rise, and Coach T is working hard to help make that happen. "

"Anyone who is following these ratings closely understands that every time there is a negative review, the coach has requested one of her favorites to come post a glowing review about her. All of the things that have been mentioned above about her lack of knowledge of the game, ability to coach, overall character are accurate. More than one of her players have said I almost lost my love of the game because of her. You can be an intense college coach and win the respect of your players. It’s all about the way you carry yourself. The aforementioned behavior of late to practice, pyblic intoxication, almost missed flights due to camping out in the airport bar, being told to sit down by the flight attendants, the lies (so many lies) and most of all her now very public driving record, Unfortunately, for your “glowing reviews” her behavior can’t be changed. She knows she was wrong over and over, she can’t change that and won’t! But posting complimentary reviews here is makeup on a goat! You’re making it worse! Folks are not just looking at the rating number. They are. reading the reviews and can decide for themselves what is fluff and what is substance. ODU had a very hard time filling the job after they fired the last Coach. So it makes sense that they didn’t fire her. She’s lucky enough; she’s done a great job making herself look foolish please don’t make it worse! "

"Theresa's coaching is toxic and extremely manipulative. People saying that some people can't handle "intense and honest" coaching has no idea what coaching actually is. These statements are coming from players parents where their kid actually plays (most of the time those players shouldn't even be on the field). Theresa is emotionally immature and cannot handle the pressure, therefore she lashes out on her players and creates a toxic environment. She doesn't develop any players and constantly pins her players against each other. It is sad to see that ODU has done nothing and has made zero changes and is accepting this behavior from a HEAD coach. It shows that not only this program will not move forward in a positive manner but also the athletic department as a whole. In conclusion, Theresa Walton is a narcissist with extreme ego issues and her players are her punching bags. "

"My daughter has been on Theresa’s team for 5 years. Theresa is not without flaws as any human being is. She is honest, gritty, caring and she follows through with what she says she will. She gave my daughter a chance and I am grateful for that. Highly recommended if your daughter can handle intensity and honest coaching. "

"First, I think that the ODU athletics department did a terrible job handling this last season of absolute chaos created by Theresa Walton. Parents, as well as athletes, went to the athletics department multiple times about this coach explaining how she was ruining many of these young girls’ college athletic careers and mental states. She was responsible for ending a player’s career after pushing her to play in a fall ball game too soon after an injury, injuring her further and permanently ending any chance of ever playing again. Any seasoned coach would have known that it was a bad idea, and would have also listened to the athletic trainer’s advice of not putting her in the game. In addition to the many complaints about her character as a coach, during this past season she got a DUI at 6:45 am on her way to an 8am practice, resulting in her being detained in jail for 16 hours and not showing up for an important practice. ODU deserves a coach that will serve as a role model for her athletes and this was just unacceptable. Theresa Walton has proven to be a terrible leader and person in general. Her behaviors are inexcusable. During her time with her players she asked for alcohol at tailgates to take on the bus ride home, got drunk in the airport while chaperoning the team to and from away games, hopped seats while the plane was taking off, and sent videos of her being drunk to players. This is not a person who demonstrates care for the well-being of herself or her athletes. Theresa acted in ways that were not professional and showed no care for her athletes personally. She did not care about the players’ academic standings, she openly gossiped about players to other players, she appeared to play favorites with some players over others. All of her players should have felt valued and important and this was not the case. Coach Theresa Walton is nowhere close to being a good role model and should not be involved in leading the young women on ODU’s lacrosse team, or any other team. The comments that are backing up this woman are honestly comical and hold absolutely no merit. I think by this point we all know what goes on behind the scenes. I would never put my daughter in a situation to be mentally abused by this so called coach. The foul language that comes out of this woman’s mouth is a disgrace. She made her players to feel small and question their abilities instead of teaching them to be better. Her philosophy to become a winning program is sick and backwards. In order to lead a team to victory, you need to treat all of your players with respect, not tear them down. This coach has very little IQ for the game and coaching in itself. If she did, ODU would have won more games this year. All of the girls were recruited to play D1 for a reason. People play better when they are having fun, given confidence, and shown support and respect. Something that this coach is not capable of giving. Because of this, I’m firmly convinced Theresa Walton will never again have a winning team."

"Coach T knows how to push players to be their best. She puts our team in the best position to compete. She doesn't play favorites, she wants to win, I want to win and if that means players who aren’t ready yet don’t get minutes- that’s fine. She creates a good team culture because it’s not about individual players, it’s about how we all come together to compete as a team. She won’t be a good coaching fit if you constantly make excuses. This is D1. She is an awesome coach if you want to improve your game play and IQ. She’s an excellent coach if you want to build a winning team culture. Reading the comments on here just sucks especially for a someone like Coach T who has done so much for us over the last two years. And trying to attack her character anonymously online is unfair and embarrassing to the program. What sucks the most is we’re still talking about this 3 months later. I’m just excited for the fall and to get back on the field representing ODU Lacrosse in a positive way. Let’s be real the only reason people come on here is to complain. "

"Drunk aggressive bipolar abusive unstable "

"I just think it’s crazy that people see her as a caring and passionate coach. This coach never shows up to practice on time, shows up hungover most of the time, drinks in the airport when she is repping Odu and is responsible for 30 girls, then proceeded to get a DUI. Our scouts for the other team were crap and would only have a few sentences on them and they would literally say, “run fast and catch the ball” and that would be it. If she cared so much she would have never put her own team at risk, ruin the team/schools reputation, and get a DUI. If she really wanted to win a game she would be showing up to practice on time. There’s no excuse to her behavior, she’s a grown adult. "

"My daughter was coached by Coach Walton who helped develop her to be a to player who still holds records today. She is a two time all American and conference defensive player of the year every year she played. After my daughter completed her undergraduate degree Covid allowed her to continue an extra year.. Coach Walton continued to follow her and gave her the confidence to play and win a national championship, getting on the all tournament team. She then started a program that won the regular season championship. When an opportunity arose for her to coach in a more competitive conference she accepted that opportunity. It must have been difficult for her to make the decision to leave the program she started to tackle a problem that existed with unknown team dynamics and losing culture. I was impressed after she had a losing record she chose a more difficult schedule to help the team be more competitive in their conference. I can’t wait to see impacts the program with her recruits that are committed to the demand of division one lacrosse. I can’t wait to watch her next season! "