"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."

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

"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 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 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. "

"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. "

"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."

"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. "

"The last two reviews were clearly written by one or two of the “favorites.” There is a reason why 8 players transferred out this year and were all players that were there for more than one season under her hire. This website is blowing up because she has been charged with a DUI. Open container and refusing a sobriety test as per the online Virginia court case website. What more can be indicative of her true character? I certainly DO NOT want this coach building my character! Not only a DUI, but being visibly drunk on an away trip to Cincinnati with the team and being told to sit down by flight attendants upon takeoff. Those who were not at ODU for her first season and only transferred in for her second season did not witness this childish behavior. A true coach is able to utilize and mold the players that she inherits from previous coaches, not only the ones that she handpicks. Obviously her recruits or “favorites” that were brought on for the 2024 season did not help to turn it into a winning program, only tallying up even a worse record. "

"She is a disaster both personally and professionally! Left her previous position while a scandal was brewing to take the job at ODU. A good player does not make a good coach and I'm not even sure she was a good player! She does not care about academics AT ALL! She definitely has her favorites and made promises to our younger teammates about money and then brings in older players who haven't seen minutes in the previous season and then uses all our money on them! She doesn't care about our metal health, you could say she bullied us. On our plane trips she could be found in the airport bar with her assistants until the final call for the flight. That was just foreshadowing to her 6:45 AM DUI arrest 2 days before our final game. She was 2 hours from where she had been partying the night before and 1.5 hours from campus. She spent 16 hours in jail when she w supposed to be doing a team building activity with us. Her 90 days in jail was suspended and she can't drive for 18 months. So, now the university will waste more money on her recruiting visits because she will have to go everywhere with an assistant who is hopefully old enough to rent a car. The university is as much to blame for not firing her like most schools do when a coach gets a DUI. Our team chemistry is not great and the number of teammates that are in the portal, along with our losing conference record should be enough to tell you to STAY AWAY!"

"This coach is disorganized and chaotic. Practice is at 8:30, and she is getting into the building at 8:35. This season has been one of the most disastrous seasons I've been a part of and I honestly didn't think it could get worse than her getting a DUI during our last week. She has created a toxic environment that has left MULTIPLE players in a constant deep depression. She will use your mental health against you. She does not care about us as people, players, students, none of that (just her favorites). She tried to rush people from season-ending injuries and other injuries. She uses her captains as her minions and creates a divide in the team, you never know who to trust and you feel that you cannot be your open and authentic self, ever. Being in this culture and environment is incredibly draining and made me hate this sport. She does not deserve to be the head coach of this program with everything that has happened and it's embarrassing to be a part of this program at this time. I never thought I would ever be able to speak about a coach like this but this is the worst situation I've ever experienced. "

"The pattern continues.... putting herself ahead of her players. With zero conference wins after two full seasons, hopefully ODU will take this opportunity to hit reset and rebuild based on positivity, valuing the individual student-athletes, and eliminating the toxic nature of a Theresa Walton-led program."

"This week Coach Theresa Walton got a DUI. Not only did she get a DUI, she tried to flat out lie about it to her team then retracted it the very next day with a whole different story that was full of BS. "

"Out of all of the positive adjectives listed above, not even one slightly describes Theresa Walton. Nothing positive should be associated with her name. I could go on and on and list the specific things Walton does to make her such a terrible and miserable person and coach but instead I want to emphasize if you have any future plans of playing for Walton I STRONGLY suggest reviewing that decision. "

"Coach Fred Chao put me at my lowest point in life after being on his team for less than 2 months. Treated me like I wasn’t even a person. Kicked me off a team after an injury and told me I was selfish and a narcissist. While I was injured made me do stuff that put me in immense pain due to my injury and he didn’t care. I do not recommend him at all I have so many stories about him and none of them are good. "

"Very unprofessional and childish which translates to the team culture. Does not know how to manage a team. Lashes out and targets certain players with abusive words and actions. Doesn’t care about you as a person and doesn’t believe that academics come first. If you are verbally committed here, highly suggest rethinking your decision! Much better programs to play for. "

"Honestly, the worst experience with a coach at any level. She creates an extremely toxic environment. She is very negative and verbally demeaning, telling her players how much they "suck", She does not care about the player's mental or physical well-being. Her negative and disrespectful environment creates division among the team and has destroyed the love of the game. Do not play for this coach!"

"I’m hearing horror stories! She needs to be investigated! "

"Walton does not understand the role of being a coach. Other than her pet players, she does not care about the players as human beings. If you're willing to buy in to her toxic and negative culture, then she'll leave you alone but everyone else is treated like their expendable. Doesn't care about academic goals of the players. Tried to make a name for herself at YSU for the previous 2 seasons playing mediocre lacrosse in the weakest d1 conference in the country. That program is now imploding from the toxic culture created by walton and her partner in crime, who was just fired for Title IX violations. Do yourself a favor and avoid Walton as a coach."