"My experience with Coley at Bama was nothing short of amazing. He was supportive, compassionate, and helped me through some difficult times. I swam great and my teammates loved him. While there are a few vocal former swimmers and coaches who try to deride Coley on social media, he was a class act and had the respect of the majority of the team. Hope he chooses to coach a college team again. "
"Your freshman year Coach Putyrae helps develop you a lot, believes in the potential you have, and is always available for a meeting. However, not much can be said positively for the years after. I watched him change his training plan every year since I've been here, and now his mentality just seems to be that whatever team can squeeze the most meters into one practice will win NCAAs. Little seat racing done, and girls passing out at practice seems to be a weekly occurrence. While I am able to push myself further than I thought I could, doing 24K on the erg every steady state practice makes the team culture one of exhausted and burnt out athletes. I felt anytime an athlete brought any of this up to Coach Putyrae, he never felt he could make any change to make the athletes happy, and in turn didn't listen to them."
"Coach Kelly is an amazing coach who cares about her athletes and team culture. She helps the team get better each day both on and off the water. She is the kind of coach that athletes can trust. "
"Coach Matt Reida knows the game of baseball, and he is able to see the strengths inside each of his players. He works with them and helps them grow in those strengths. Passionate about the game. We're grateful for the impact he's had on our boy."
"Best coach in the business. Only people who dislike him are those that were cut or reprimanded for poor behavior. Holds swimmers accountable and is fair. "
"Worst Coach ever. She was had with zero experience and given a crazy salary by Bama. She is extremely clueless, unorganized and lacks any sense of self awareness. Universally hated by her team. "
"We have known Coach Reida for quite a while and have followed him as he continues to grow in his coaching career. Coach Reida has always taken pride in seeing his players grow in their skills and their knowledge of the game. His knowledge and his ability to connect with others help increase his effectiveness as a coach and an integral part of any team he is part of."
"He’s a great coach knows the game of football he has a lot of respect for players other coaches an always has time for his players parents. To me he’s one of the best coaches in college football an I respect him for speaking up an told the NFL that professional football wasn’t his glass of tea .. An come back to college football landing the best job in college football the University of Alabama were he’s built a power house football team .."
"- Ethical and follows the rules
- Honest and direct, will hold you accountable
- Lots of laughs and fun practices, with high intensity
- Provides opportunities to become a better person and help the community
- Gets over things quickly, doesn’t hold on to the past
- Helps with your career and keeps up regularly with most even years after playing
"
"Coach Pursley is a hit-or-miss head coach. His ability to motivate and recruit is excellent. His ability to form relationships with his team is minute if not non-existent. He is radically religious and conservative, and he works these concepts into his leadership style, making his atmosphere feel fairly unaccepting at times. Pursley ruined the athletic hopes of many by instituting unwavering practice ideations that worked for some but were detrimental for most.
I clearly recall and athlete experiencing an injury that knocked them out of the sport post-season. That athlete worked hard to return to the pool and complete their career in the best way possible, but Pursley never offered a single word of encouragement to that athlete, one who had put forth immeasurable effort to build themself and the team.
Swimming under Pursley was a catastrophic experience on me, mentally. Physically, anyone could make it. The psychological strain from Pursley will stick with me for the rest of my life. "
"Coach was not very personable and not easy to get along with. I would not advise coming into his program if you are a freshman looking to be developed as he will leave you full time with a volunteer assistant so that they can practice coaching. Communication is a one way street under him, as he expects you to tell him every detail of your daily training, only for him to either not respond, or send you an “ok” message. Coach does not take kindly to injury and will assume you are faking/lying about them. Injury treatment only becomes an option when said injury starts to need serious medical attention. "
"His strategy is simple; make his kids swim in fear. His inability to connect with swimmers makes him hard to like. Talks crap about you in front of other swimmers, and racist remarks were said on pool deck. Gets away with a lot on deck, would not want my kid to be coached by him. No respect for others"
"Rude and intimidating. He picks his favorites and couldn’t care less about anyone else. His coaching style is unique and definitely not for everyone."
"He picks favorites and has double standards. He is very direct and honest about how he feels, but also does not have a filter. He says inappropriate and hurtful things about swimmers to their face or behind their back."
"One of the worst individuals I have ever met. Only looks out for himself and his future plans, if he did not recruit you to Alabama himself he could care less about you as an athlete or a human being. "
"Coley is probably a 6/5 in intensity but it's only because he is that passionate about his athletes and making them better. He definitely has a strong personality but his innovative and fiery coaching style is what will win Alabama Swimming and Diving a national championship."
"He has always been very transparent and communicates efficiently. He has truly helped shape the Cross-Country and Track & Field programs as a whole. The whole staff, in general, is amazing! "
"Has his favourites. Has the emotional stability of a 14 year old girl. He is extremely divisive, when he decides he doesn’t like someone then he will harass them to their face and behind their back to other swimmers."
"He is the most amazing coach, and I appreciate everything he did for me and our team. Always there to talk when needed and the most knowledgeable coach I know."
"Not my event coach, but as a head coach he is always looking for what is best for the team. He knows and believes in how good each individual can be! Has brought Alabama from the bottom to the top."
"Great guy. Great coach. Something that really stands out to me is he is very understanding as a coach and knows the game. Cares about us as players, and is going to give you his honest opinion. "
"I love him so much! He's the best coach and I would never be the player I am or have the opportunities I have without him. I am SO thankful I chose him and the alabama softball program. "
"He's the most honest and straight forward coach I've ever had. Most coaches say they also care about you as a man; however, he is the first coach I've ever had that lives by that statement every day. Always motivates his players and doesn't play favorites. "
"Extremely knowledgeable, a very down to earth guy who is very easy to talk to. He understands what it's like being a college baseball player having done it himself. When it comes to games he is very relaxed but about his business. He is a "players first" coach but there's a clear line of respect that won't be crossed between him and the players. "
"Coach Saban is the most elite football coach at any level. He expects a lot out of his coaches, players and fans. He understands what goals are and has created a system to reach them. "
"Coach Pursley is a very old-school coach and a firm believer that there is no substitute for hard work. His decades of experience have allowed him to turn the program around in terms of training, academics, and recruiting; however, there are a few times every season where his experience conflicts with new training attitudes and athlete input."
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