"Very direct, supportive of her players, and very knowledgeable about the game, and motivational"

"Definitely the worst coach I've ever had. Made a huge show of how much he cares about his players but straight up disrespected anyone who wasn't in the starting 11. He will juice you up and say whatever you want to hear during the recruiting process, but the second you get there he makes it abundantly clear how much he doesn't value you as a player or a person. Will yell and make you cry during practice and games, makes injured players play on active injury, doesn't allow for players to do summer internships and jobs, and is just truly a disgusting person all around. Dave and Jason are great people but Danny is so awful that it outweighs them completely. "

"As a former player from the Colorado women’s lacrosse program, I felt compelled to share my experience with Coach Ann Elliott. I think a lot of what some people may interpret as “social awkwardness” or distance is actually Ann maintaining professional boundaries. She is there to coach, develop athletes and win championships, not to socialize with parents or try to be everyone’s best friend. Personally, I respected that. I always knew where I stood with her, and I appreciated having a coach who focused on making us better rather than trying to be popular. Ann pushed her players to high standards, but she also motivated people in different ways and genuinely cared about the growth of her athletes. One of the things I respected most was that she prepared players for real team environments and real competition. At the college level, not everyone is going to be a starter or even play, and understanding your role on a team matters. Separating scout teams and starters in practice is not uncommon or toxic... it’s standard at competitive college programs and exists to make the team better as a whole. Some of the most respected leaders and captains on our team were not starters and hardly saw the field, which says a lot about how much value was placed on leadership, work ethic, and culture beyond just playing time. Ann cared deeply about her players and held everyone accountable equally. She expected commitment, discipline, and maturity from everyone in the program. Most importantly, I think Ann’s impact becomes even clearer after graduation. Once your playing career is over, she welcomes former players into her life in a completely different way. The relationship evolves from coach player into genuine friendship and mentorship, which speaks volumes about the type of person she is. No coach is perfect, and every athlete’s experience is different. But from my perspective, Ann Elliott is one of the best coaches in the sport because she develops resilient, accountable, team first athletes while maintaining high standards and professionalism."

"She can come across as socially awkward, which seems to affect her ability to communicate effectively with her players. She avoids eye contact with people. When the team is winning, the players’ close relationships help them stay connected and push through challenges. However, when the team is struggling, they do not seem able to rely on their coach for the same level of support, guidance, or leadership. The athletes themselves are very close, which helps maintain team morale. However, it feels like the University of Colorado program has the potential to be much stronger, and recruiting may be impacted by her interpersonal style and difficulty connecting with people. Her interactions can sometimes feel distant or uncomfortable, which may make it harder to build trust and strong relationships. There also appears to be inconsistency in how players are treated. Rather than formally cutting athletes, there is a perception that players she no longer wants on the roster may be encouraged to leave on their own. Support also seems uneven depending on a player’s status, with top players who are injured potentially receiving significantly more care, while younger or less established players may feel overlooked. For example, she visited a top player in the hospital but neglected the other athletes in the hospital. Another concern is the division created between starters and non-starters. The groups are frequently separated in practice, which can be discouraging and demoralizing for players outside the starting lineup. Some athletes feel this creates unnecessary exclusion rather than fostering a unified team culture. It has reportedly been brought to her attention by team captains that this dynamic is harmful to team morale and culture, yet the approach has continued."

"I love Steve. Steve is the best. I preferred to be on the second team (Steve's team) over being on the first team because he is such an awesome coach. "

"Best coach I ever had and I’ve played soccer all my life"

"Coach Steve made CU club soccer so enjoyable. I looked forward to practices and games, and how much he cared about each of us was so unique and appreciated. If you are lucky enough to play for him, you will experience a season of fun memories, lots of wins, and a true belief in you as a player. He led us to be national champions, without him we wouldn’t have been nearly as close, nearly as competitive or nearly as confident. He values hard work, positivity and at the core of our success was his dedication to us. He is the heart of our CU program, and we are beyond lucky to have him. -lauren"

"I played two years at the CU Women’s Club soccer program. I had a poor coaching experience my first year, and was depressed throughout the 2023 fall season. Not only for my lack of playing time, but mainly for my fear of my coaches. In 2024, coach steve was my coach, and gave the opposite experience. He made me feel valued, cared about our team dynamic, and our success on and off the field. I could give criticism and feedback on his coaching and he would listen and even take it. He even understood when I couldn’t pay a soccer fee and gave me an extension and still let me play. Thank you for making my soccer season end happy compared to the year before. Thank you for getting us to be national champions!! "