"She is dishonest and fake. She screams at us to perform our best, but doesn’t give us the support we need to do that (like taking pix of her dogs when she’s supposed to be spotting a jaeger, giving us minimal hours to train….) She spreads lies about gymnasts she doesn’t like while pretending to be nice to them in person. Totally toxic coach. Totally toxic team dynamic. "
"This program is a joke. This coach is a joke. In my time as a Utica Gymnast I have received one correction from this coach and it was an incorrect. You can tell that we are her last priority. She has multiple other teams, all of which are low level that she prioritizes over her college team.
She is demeaning; she is aggressive; she manipulates us to the point where we don’t even know what’s true and what is not true. She throws money around and expects us to be so incredibly grateful for the many leotards and merch we have when we can’t even afford chalk and if you were to ask me — I’d prefer being safe on the bars then having 10 different Leos to wear at competitions. We have been called worthless, we have been told that we do not care, wehave been told we do not try. At the end of the day Dani is recruiting quantity over quality and it shows. We are in a constant state of fear and exhaustion because of this woman. I have never hated gymnastics so much in my life than at my time at Utica. The program is weak; we train maybe three times a week. Our schedule is a joke. We are lucky to receive it the Sunday night before the week starts. We’re lucky if we lift once a week and the lift we do receive is a joke. Our current summer lift we lift twice a week and you can tell it was made by somebody who has no idea how to train athletes. I am the weakest I have ever been in my life, even though I work out on my own, and this is the weakest I have been in my sport because I have never received a good correction from this woman. They are unconscientious of injuries. They will judge they will demean, and they will force you to work their injuries: there was a girl who was forced to vault on sprained ankles because they told her to and then were subsequently disappointed when she chose to never compete vault again. Dani is not a fit Coach. The only reason she is the head coach is because she is the owner of the facility and the program would be better off escaping her and moving to a new location. I could genuinely go on for hours telling you why Danielle is not a suitable coach and why she should not be the head coach of Utica Gymnastics. Within the team, there is rampant bullying, there is victim blaming, and there is exclusion to the point of isolation. The captains that were chosen were not fit to be captains, and there is such an incredible lack of leadership within the program. It all can be pointed towards our head coach. The only reason I have yet to transfer is because the university itself is exceptional. If I had one suggestion for somebody looking at you, Utica Gymnastics, look elsewhere"
"Diabolical. Every single day was one threat after another. If you ask any non-gymnast on campus, they'll tell you the team is a cult. Do not be fooled by the fake smiles on social media...girls having panic attacks and throwing up before practice. All the girls have to match at practice or they get screamed at. The coach's also coach rec and a high school varsity team and they overlap, so the team is alone a lot and "run" by the older girls which is a disaster. You have to be their favorite or forget it, there is constant bullying. The coach has a lot of money and likes to throw it around. She buys them expensive leotards and tells them that no one else will want them! She also talks bad about other coach's which is wild...no one does that, but it's probably because she's afraid they'll leave. She has no idea how to spot and never lays a hand on the girls to help...it's just a disaster there and every word is a lie. "
"I have mixed emotions about Aris I thought she was a great coach but not really fair. I felt looked over all the years working o her team while she recruited someone who never played volleyball. I felt semi supported as a player not supported as an individual and certainly not treated the same. Her mom was the assistant coach her sister another. Very awkward for me till I could deal anymore. Wish you the best hope you’ve grown since then. "
"Is not an example of what a Utica college staff is about. I’ve been apart of Utica college for many years now and I get feedback from my son and players that he is not for the team but is all about himself."
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