"Dennis Pursley is tagged as men’s swimming & diving but in reality coached the women’s team, too. He fostered a culture of a “boys club” mentality, held meetings just with the women’s team to discuss us being too fat, and was overall a disgusting perpetuator of abuse. This doesn’t even go into the old school mentality he held onto despite the data showing it held little to no weight in getting athletes better nor his erasure and belittling of the gay members of our team. "
"During the recruiting process, Glenn initially stood out to me for several reasons. He made big promises—and to his credit, many of them were fulfilled. However, the support and attention I received seemed to have an expiration date. My freshman year, he was invested in my development and genuinely seemed to care. But once I became a sophomore, that dynamic changed drastically. I went from feeling valued to feeling overlooked, as if I were no longer useful.
It became clear to me that he heavily favors his freshmen (he will not pay attention to you if you are not in the 1v8...which is mostly Freshmen). The environment became toxic, and instead of feeling supported, I felt like I was constantly under scrutiny. One particularly troubling incident was when he called me just to yell and curse at me. I no longer felt safe being alone with him.
By my second year, I felt disillusioned and emotionally drained. I had the unsettling realization that the person I thought I could trust as a coach had manipulated me. His coaching style often involved pinning athletes against each other, fostering a cutthroat atmosphere rather than one of team unity. He once told us, “If you’re not getting injured, you’re not pushing yourself hard enough.” That mindset led to multiple career-ending injuries within our team.
By my senior year, I hated the sport. This sport was my life for 10+ years and I hated it, all because of him. Burnout became common, and many recruited athletes didn’t stay long. I lost all respect for him during that time. While I did grow stronger in some ways because of the challenges, I needed a coach who had my back—not one who broke me down. I'm relieved to hear he is stepping down as the Alabama Head Coach, just for this girls' sanity.
One other note, if you are a coxswain and not 100lbs or less, good luck. "
"Coach Putyrae has increasingly gotten more desperate in his coaching routines as performance at regattas has declined. The more the team loses, the worse his behavior gets. He stretches the weekly time limits set by the NCAA by making rowers start earlier in the morning but keeping them longer than allowed. He recently started saying that the time getting boats on and off the water also doesn't count, thus adding even more cumulative hours a week to practices. They also have "Noptional" practices on flex days, where rowers are forced to practice without the benefit of safety launches and athletic trainers, leaving girls vulnerable if a medical emergency happened. There is no real warming up or stretching before practice, and A LOT of rowers are getting hurt - with many needing surgery that ultimately ends their rowing careers. There are injuries like fractured vertebrae, bulging discs, torn hip and shoulder labrums, tendinitis, and rib pain and fractures. Coxes, who do not need to lose weight, are being told to lose 20 pounds by an assistant coach. Once injured, he and his staff treat the injured rowers poorly, creating a very toxic culture between the active rowers and the injured rowers. He made one injured rower who refused to leave the team to workout in a room by herself. He uses head games to get injured girls to quietly leave the team, and doesn't allow them to say goodbye in the group chat. His whole staff tries coerce the injured rowers with scholarships to leave the team and give up their scholarships. This is so he can use that money on the recruitment of new, strong, uninjured rowers. Coach Putyrae has used the rowing coach who was fired from the Ohio team for abuse to help coach the Alabama team via video meetings with the staff and team captains. He's not an effective coach, and the team's performance has really suffered when one of the assistant coaches transfered to Miami for a head coach position. It's best to look elsewhere if you are looking for a supportive rowing coach who looks out for the health and well-being of the rowers. "
"Coach Putyrae has increasingly gotten more desperate in his coaching routines as performance at regattas has declined. The more we lose, the worse his behavior gets. He stretches the weekly time limits set by the NCAA by making rowers start earlier in the morning but keeping them longer than allowed. He recently started saying that the time getting boats on and off the water also doesn't count, thus adding even more cumulative hours a week to practices. They also have "Noptional" practices on flex days, where rowers are forced to practice without the benefit of safety launches and athletic trainers, leaving girls vulnerable if a medical emergency happened. There is no real warming up or stretching before practice, and A LOT of rowers are getting hurt - with many needing surgery that ultimately ends their rowing careers. There are injuries like fractured vertebrae, bulging discs, torn hip and shoulder labrums, tendinitis, and rib pain and fractures. Coxes, who do not need to lose weight, are being told to lose 20 pounds by a small assistant coach. Once injured, he and his staff treat the injured rowers poorly, creating a very toxic culture between the active rowers and the injured rowers. He made one injured rower who refused to leave the team to workout in a room by herself. He uses head games to get injured girls to quietly leave the team, and doesn't allow them to say goodbye in the group chat. His whole staff tries coerce the injured rowers with scholarships to leave the team and give up their scholarships. This is so he can use that money on the recruitment of new, strong, uninjured rowers. Coach Putyrae has used the rowing coach who was fired from the Ohio team for abuse to help coach the Alabama team via video meetings with the staff and team captains. He's not an effective coach, and the team's performance has really suffered when one of the assistant coaches transfered to Miami for a head coach position. It's best to look elsewhere if you are looking for a supportive rowing coach who looks out for the health and well-being of the rowers. "
Coed Cross Country/Track & Field Assistant Coach / Distance
The University of Alabama
NCAA DI - FBS • Southeast
Avoid Will Palmer At All Costs
Date: May 3, 2025
By Verified Athlete
1.0
Would Recommend
Overall
Caring
Motivational
Knowledgeable
Honest
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
"Stay away from Palmer’s program at all costs. He is emotionally abusive and overtrains his athletes. In my time in his program at Alabama I saw him manipulate young athletes into staying away from training staff and ignoring doctor’s orders for non-activity constantly. He does not care about the health or well-being of his athletes it is merely a facade. There were girls including myself and roommates who when told by the doctor, that when told to do no activity for 6 weeks, he would force to cross train 2x a day and participate in lifts. He spoke poorly of me to other members of the team and had 1-on-1 meetings to accuse me of going out being the cause of my injuries which was not the case. Save yourself the therapy bill."
"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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