"Thank you, ODU, for finally listening to the athletes. For years, this program became an environment that many athletes dreaded being part of instead of one they were proud to represent. What should have been a place for growth, development, competition, and support became an exhausting and emotionally draining experience for so many players. This was not just about losing games. It was about leadership that failed the athletes. Players were pushed in ways that felt unsustainable, physically and mentally, with little regard for burnout, morale, or overall well-being. Instead of feeling developed and supported, many athletes felt unheard, discouraged, and constantly questioning themselves. Being a student-athlete is already demanding enough without feeling like the very environment meant to help you succeed is working against you. The emotional toll of that kind of culture affects confidence, performance, academics, and the overall college experience in ways people outside the program may never fully understand. Coaching changes are never easy, but sometimes they are necessary. ODU women’s lacrosse deserves leadership that develops athletes, builds a healthy culture, and creates a program players are proud to be part of—not one they are simply trying to survive. For the first time in a long time, I feel hopeful for the future of this program and proud to be a Monarch again."

"My daughter is a member of ODU lax. She really likes having Coach T as her coach. Thank you Coach T."

"I suppose since you have never played elsewhere you really don’t see how a college lacrosse program could be! And maybe you are part of the toxicity or bullying that happens on that team, or you would CERTAINLY have seen it! The senior redshirts who stood on the sidelines and laughed at the freshman was appalling! I guess you weren’t part of the travel party in Florida in ‘23 when your coach drank too much postgame and almost missed the flight! (I was in the airport headed home as well, I saw her - she doesn’t take the time to get to know a lot of the parents only her “chosen ones” so she had no idea who she was “misbehaving” in front of! I also guess you weren’t LIED to your face about car trouble when she was in jail for a DUI @ 7AM after golfing with friends in Cville the afternoon prior. And you weren’t on the sidelines on senior day when your assistant coaches didn’t know how to run the game in the HCs absence (for her weak AD punishment)! It’s unfortunate that you are offended by these comments but there is one person to blame and that’s your coach! Her reputation will never recover among other D1 coaches, as told to me by an ACC coach I know well. She’s so far in over her head and never played at the level she’s trying to coach - it’s obvious! ODU has such a hard time hiring someone for that position It’s not important to them! The playing conditions are a perfect representation of how much the AD cares about Women’s Lacrosse. Even ODU alums, MBB & FB season ticket holders I know, agree the entire AD operation needs an overhaul/house cleaning. Hopefully you get out with a degree and still enjoy your lacrosse career but don’t be offended by the truth, embrace it and do everything you can to change the course of the program. "

"Coach Theresa Walton is a knowledgeable head coach with passion, excitement, confidence, and intensity. Let me be clear, if you are looking to play at Old Dominion you should absolutely pursue it. The team culture is fantastic. Coach T has worked hard to create a culture where every team member is valued, visible, and connected to one another. Which by the way, was not the case before she came to campus in 2022. Age, class, position, etc., is never used as a factor when it come to the way you are treated as a person and as a player. But if you do want to play D1 competitive lacrosse, ODU is a perfect school to do so with Theresa Walton at the helm ship. Those who are truly connected to the program and buy into the values, vision, and overall standard Coach Theresa Walton sets for her players, know that Old Dominion lacrosse is a truly special place to be. #ProudToBeAMonarch"

"As a current member of the Old Dominion University Women’s lacrosse team, I find the statements being shared about our program extremely offensive and disappointing. The claims being made do not reflect the reality of our team, our coaching staff, or the culture we are a part of every day. Characterizing this program as toxic, immature, or harmful is simply false. Our team culture is built on respect, accountability, support, and growth, and those values are consistently reinforced by our coaching staff. To suggest that this program promotes negativity or a “mean girl” environment is completely untrue and unfair to the women who make up this team. Coach Walton promotes strong morals, leadership, and personal responsibility, and genuinely cares about our development as people, not just as athletes. No program or person is perfect, but the idea that this environment is abusive or unhealthy could not be further from my experience. Having been exposed to other college coaches and programs, I can confidently say that the culture at ODU is one of the best and most supportive I have been a part of. I am proud to represent this team and this university. The relationships, lessons, and growth I’ve experienced here mean a great deal to me, and I would not trade my decision to be here for anything. Very Proud to be a Monarch! "

"Totally immature. It is crazy to me that ODU can keep her after all of the wrong she does. She promotes drinking whether that is at alumni weekend including girls that are underage or after a loss. If you only care about being able to say “I play D1 lacrosse,” then maybe this program is fine. But the emotional abuse, the weak academics, and the area as a whole make it hard to justify. Embarrassing to even say that I was apart of this nonsense. "

"During Alumni Weekend 2025, I witnessed a concerning incident involving Coach Walton and the lacrosse team. A tailgate was set up for the alumni, providing food and alcoholic beverages purchased by the ODU coaching staff and alumni paid for. Surprisingly, current (underage) players decided to join the alumni tailgate and proceeded to consume every last alcoholic drink supplied by the coaches. Not only did they indulge themselves, but they also began guarding coolers, claiming them as their own. What truly alarmed me was that the old dominion coaches provided these drinks to underage members of the lacrosse team. "

"Wow Theresa approved the new instagram reel posted for the girls to name there “lacrosse icks”. It’s wild to see that the judgemental mean girl culture still lives on. None of them should be talking and judging players like that when they can’t even have a winning season. Sad to see how she is preparing them for the real world. ODU is a sick joke. "

"It’s confusing why ODU allows Coach T to remain in the head coaching position. After getting a DWI and being dishonest about what happened, somehow ODU and the NCAA are permitting her to continue to lead this division 1 team. Coaches are supposed to be role models on and off the field and Coach T is not an example of how I want my child to carry herself. I do not want someone coaching my daughter that does not exhibit honesty, integrity or commitment to the team as a whole."

"Coach T is exactly the kind of coach we were hoping for—tough, honest, and unafraid to challenge our daughter. She doesn’t sugarcoat things or hand out praise unless it’s earned, and that’s how real growth happens. In a world where too many coaches (and parents!) tiptoe around hard truths, Coach T holds the line with accountability and high standards. She pushes her players to be better athletes and tougher people, and we’ve seen that growth firsthand. If your kid needs constant coddling, this probably isn’t the program for them (or you quite frankly), but if they’re ready to be coached hard and come out stronger, this is your team and coaching staff. "

"Shame on ODU for not firing Theresa. It's actually embarrassing for a D1 school to tolerate her immaturity and inexcusable actions. Sad for the girls on the team, they have no idea they are throwing their careers away to a woman and school that does not care about them one bit. "

"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. "