University of Mary Washington

"Ashwell is a good listener. She is an expert in defending. Used to play for UMW and was all American. "

"The team culture is awesome and he knows how to put academics first and make it fun. "

"I was fortunate enough to play under Coach Yates during my time at the University of Mary Washington. The program is lucky to have a leader and coach like him. He has high standards and will push players to their limit on the field because he wants the best out of them. Coming from playing at a high level, he knows what the UMW team is capable of and demands excellence day in and day out. Off the field, he is caring, charismatic, and easy to get along with. He is always available and willing to provide assistance wherever it is needed whether that be in the classroom, on the field, or in life. His vast knowledge for the game comes from years of experience as a player and coach at many different schools and divisions. He has been very innovative for the UMW program, bringing new ideas and drills to the table. Although some reviews may critique his style of coaching, the reality is that college soccer needs more coaches like Coach Yates. As a young college soccer player frustrated with playing time, it is easy to write a negative review about your coaching staff. The negative reviews about Coach Yates don't tell the whole story of who he is. He is dedicated, passionate, and does everything he does because he loves his players. Whether Coach Yates stays at UMW or takes on a new experience in college soccer, I would definitely play for him again."

"Playing for Coach Kilby at the University of Mary Washington changed my life for the better. Coach Kilby was by no means a perfect soccer coach; however, no coach is perfect. Coach Kilby was honest, fair, and direct with his decisions about players. More importantly, he truly does care about the well-being of his boys. College soccer is not for the faint of heart. It truly is a 4-year process of ups and downs. There will be injuries, troubles with school, problems with social life, frustration with a lack of playing time, etc. and as a 18-22 year old, it is easy to pass the blame when things aren't going your way. The players I saw who completed 4 full years and graduated from the UMW Soccer Program were hardworking, resilient, humble, and never passed the blame (often times when it wasn't even their blame to take). If Coach Kilby benched them, they accepted it, embraced their new role, and elevated the team elsewhere because they knew there was a purpose behind his decision. On every team, people need to add value somehow. The best, and most enjoyable, way to do that is to be the 'Star Player', scoring all the goals and winning all the personal accolades. But, if that's not you, then you may be a reserve player or injured player and need to add value some other way. Is it fun being the one filling up water bottles? No. But that doesn't mean it's not important. At the end of the day, it's Division 3 soccer. Nobody is going to make a living playing professionally after their college career. The experience is 'soccer' yes, but what Coach Kilby ultimately gave me was an opportunity to grow into a man. If you are a high level club player and want to have a "fun" college experience while also simply playing soccer, I would recommend attending a larger school where you can do that more leisurely (club team) along with having the traditional college experience (Fraternities, College Football, Big parties, etc.). But, if you are a high level club player who is looking for the most rewarding experience of your life, wants to develop enduring relationships, and is willing to challenge yourself regardless of how many minutes you play on the pitch, go play for Coach Kilby. I'd do it all over again. "