Women's Volleyball

Dale Starr

Head Volleyball Coach

Western Illinois University

NCAA DI • Missouri Valley Conference | MVC

Listen To Athletes When They Speak Up.!!!!!!

Date: December 9, 2025

By Athlete

1.2

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

2.0

Tags

"This is specifically for all the people claiming that all these shared experiences by athletes or parents are just” negative and not helping anyone” are completely oblivious to what actually has been happening under the coaching of Dale. Those that are all defending him have clearly never been actually coached by him. At the end of the day, Dale can be a nice person to get along with and talk to you, but when it comes to volleyball and coaching young athletes, specifically girls, he does things that are unacceptable point blank. Yes people are going to have bad days and blow up and maybe say a few things that they didn’t mean to, but that’s different compared to it happening every single day and it being an ongoing thing from years not even just from the school that he just coached that but hearing experiences from players from his previous schools that he coached at. I hope everyone that is reading this, actually can share the real experience and the effects of what has been happening. "

0

Women's Volleyball

Dale Starr

Head Volleyball Coach

Western Illinois University

NCAA DI • Missouri Valley Conference | MVC

Please Read Before You Make The Same Mistake I Did

Date: December 7, 2025

By Athlete

2.6

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

2.0

1.0

4.0

5.0

Tags

Intense Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Accessible

"With all of the tag options, I am very envious of the people that can add the tag on here saying that their coach is respectful to players, positive, motivational, etc.,. because that is not the experience you will get with Dale Starr. Despite many efforts to get him to be respectful and coach in an intense but yet motivational way, he never changed his actions. I watched myself and my teammates throughout my years with him suffer from all of the emotions he put us through. He was discouraging, would name call, would talk negatively about players to others, received more yellow cards in a season than most coaches do their entire lifetime. If a ref made a bad call, of course it would be upsetting right? Dale would in return call the refs and other coaches words and names that were unacceptable (most likely worse than whatever words you're imagining). He is not the coach that I thought he was during my time of being recruited. Whether you're viewing this because you're considering hiring him as a coach, or an athlete who might be coached by him in the future, please go somewhere else or else you will regret it. If you choose to follow through, I promise you... he'll make you regret it too."

0

Women's Volleyball

Dale Starr

Head Volleyball Coach

Western Illinois University

NCAA DI • Missouri Valley Conference | MVC

Choose Your Mental Health Over A “Good”’Coach

Date: December 3, 2025

By Athlete

2.2

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

4.0

Tags

Intense Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Accessible

"RUN! I am truly disappointed with the coaching style that coach Starr follows. He blames it on “being old school” but does things that are completely out of pocket and unacceptable. He consistently bad mouths players to other team members,yells at the assistant and GA coaches, and never takes accountability. I have lost my passion for volleyball playing under Dale Starr in just the short span of 4 months. Coming into this program optimistic to work with a passionate coach, turned into not even wanting to practice or show up because of a coach. He constantly kept us in a state of fear, yelling,throwing clipboards, and even kicking a ball across the stands. I will be genuinely disheartened if the NCAA allows him to go to another school and ruin the sport we all love and cherish. His volleyball knowledge itself isn’t bad, it’s just very old school technique wise and with adapting the style of new play there is. Choose your self. Play for someone who actually cares about you as a person, not just someone who wants another win in the books."

1

Women's Volleyball

Dale Starr

Head Volleyball Coach

Western Illinois University

NCAA DI • Missouri Valley Conference | MVC

Stay Away If You Want Your Daughter To Be Happy And Challenged Playing Volleyball

Date: November 21, 2025

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Intense Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Accessible

"Poor communication skills. Does not give players feedback. He is a hot head and extremely stubborn. He plays favorites and is not adaptable. He kills motivation and makes athletes hate playing volleyball for him. "

0

Women's Volleyball

Dale Starr

Head Volleyball Coach

Western Illinois University

NCAA DI • Missouri Valley Conference | MVC

Believe What You’ve Heard.

Date: August 31, 2025

By Athlete

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Intense Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Accessible

"Dale Starr is a sad excuse of a coach. He continuously bad mouths his players, support staff, and even his own boss. You would think as a father, he would know how to coach young female athletes, but it’s quite the contrary. He will not take the time to develop players nor will he coach them properly. His political views are an entirely different story. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but as a college coach he expresses his views both online and on the court in an inappropriate manner. Team culture is almost non existent. He picks favorites, and will talk bad about players to OTHER players. Just completely and utterly unprofessional. His behavior on the court is unjustifiable. You can watch any game and you will see his aggressive behavior towards his players and opponents. He’s been under investigation countless times for body shaming, inappropriate language, and his extremely aggressive behavior. Dale is not the type of coach or man I would want my daughter to play for. Believe the things you’ve seen, save yourself and your child. "

0

Women's Volleyball

Dale Starr

Women's Volleyball Head Coach

Robert Morris University (PA)

NCAA DI • Horizon League

Shame On The Ncaa, You Know Better

Date: August 27, 2025

By Other

1.2

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

2.0

Tags

Intense Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Accessible

"I’ve seen this dirtbag operate at the club and heard horror stories of him at the college level. What he does to young women under the title of coach, should never be allowed. He must get off on making young women feel fear. I’ve seen him scream at 15 year olds an inch from their face as a form of public humiliation. It’s sick. How’s he allowed to coach still??? He’s a known monster. "

0

Coed Soccer

Dr. Eric Johnson

Director Of Soccer

Western Illinois University

NCAA DI - FCS • Skyline Conference

My Journey With Athletics Was Severely Hampered By Dr Eric Johnson By His Old School And His Throw You To The Fire Approach.

Date: July 19, 2025

By Athlete

2.6

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

2.0

3.0

2.0

4.0

Tags

Direct Old School Mentality

"Coach Eric Johnson has an old school mentality and does not give one care in the world about athletes' mental health. Blames players for their injuries and creates an unfair environment within the team to meet unattainable expectations. Rather than work with you or develop his coaching, its his way or the highway. In hindsight I would not recommend choosing Western Illinois University for men's soccer."

0

Women's Volleyball

Dale Starr

Head Volleyball Coach

Western Illinois University

NCAA DI • Missouri Valley Conference | MVC

Stay Away; You Deserve Better

Date: April 17, 2025

By Athlete

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Intense Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Accessible

"I played for Dale at RMU- and I am genuinely appalled and truly disheartened to see that the NCAA has continually allowed this man to continue coaching, despite having being cited numerous times and having several investigations launched against him. Dale Starr nearly ruined my life as a young college student, and I am thankful to those around me who allowed me to get away from him and the horrible experience he gave me. I didn't learn anything, except how to hate myself and hate volleyball. I was told I would be better off dead and disabled than I would be playing for him. Take it from someone ho has had to spend YEARS healing from this experience: find another school, find another team. Save yourself, save your daughter, save a friend. Life is too short to spend your formative years in mental anguish because of where you chose to play college volleyball"

0

Women's Volleyball

Dale Starr

Women's Volleyball Head Coach

Robert Morris University (PA)

NCAA DI • Horizon League

If You Want To Hate Volleyball, Play For Him.

Date: February 20, 2025

By Athlete

1.4

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

3.0

Tags

Intense Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Accessible

"Dale Starr is a poor excuse for a coach. He cares about tearing his athletes down. He comments on weight, looks, and mental health. He would rather you suffer in silence than get help. He is oddly close with certain girls and other coaches have even encouraged players to bully other players to get them to leave. If you voice concerns, he will penalize you and exile you. He cusses at players, throws clipboards, and many coaches have voiced their worries about him being able to coach. "

1

Coed Cross Country/Track & Field

Trey Brokaw

Coed Cross Country/Track & Field Head Coach

Western Illinois University

NCAA DI - FCS • Skyline Conference

He Only Cared About Performance. Horrible Coach.

Date: February 17, 2025

By Other

1.6

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

4.0

1.0

Tags

Accessible Cool Direct Disorganized Poor Communication

"When I asked him to encourage and coach me in workouts and races he said he didn’t have the time and energy. He only had the time and energy for the fastest/best athletes. When I did become one of the fastest on the team, but got injured, he asked me to race through my injury. He didn’t get along with with other coaches (got our team kicked out of meets) and departments (got our team kicked out of the weight room), after athletes did not race well he wouldn’t talk to us until the next day, he would lie to athletes, if you were injured he didn’t talk to you or give you a training plan, and so many other things. When he announced he was leaving I was so happy."

0

Women's Volleyball

Dale Starr

Women's Volleyball Head Coach

Robert Morris University (PA)

NCAA DI • Horizon League

If You Care About Yourself Don’t Play For Him.

Date: February 8, 2025

By Other

1.4

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

3.0

1.0

Tags

Intense Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Accessible

"Only cares about winning/losing. Nothing else. "

1

Men's Softball

Collin Hopkins

Men's Softball Assistant Coach

Western Illinois University

NCAA DI - FCS • Skyline Conference

Doesn’t Know Very Much About Pitching But Very Nice Person

Date: August 24, 2023

By Other

1.8

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

2.0

4.0

1.0

Tags

Positive Person Respectful To Players Understanding

"Awful doesn’t know anything about pitching. Tries to make every pitcher a carbon copy of each other "

0

Women's Softball

Alisa Goler

Women's Softball Head Coach

Western Illinois University

Horrible, Doesn’t Know Anything, Is Very Rude

Date: May 14, 2023

By Other

1.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

Tags

Disorganized Old School Mentality Poor Communication

"Rude and doesn’t care, sucks"

0

Women's Cross Country/Track & Field

Trey Brokaw

Women's Cross Country Head Coach

University of Akron

NCAA DI • Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference | NACC

Date: April 11, 2021

By Verified Athlete

4.8

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

4.0

Tags

Accessible Cool Direct Disorganized Poor Communication

"The one who will believe in you at any time"

0

Men's Football

Landon Fox

Men's Football Defensive Coordinator

Western Illinois University

NCAA DI - FCS • Missouri Valley Conference | MVC

Date: April 16, 2020

By Verified Athlete

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Accessible Cool Direct Intense

""

0

Women's Volleyball

Ben Staupe

Women's Volleyball Head Coach

Western Illinois University

Date: February 8, 2020

By Verified Athlete

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Accessible Cool Direct Intense

"Ben was by far the greatest coach I've ever had. I had him when he was the assistant at UW-Whitewater and he completely transformed my skills and formed me into the player I am today. He's intense but in the most motivating way. He really knows the game and pushes you to be the best you can be. Hes very honest & tells it straight. Highly recommend."

0

Women's Volleyball

Kelly Richardson

Women's Volleyball Head Coach

Western Illinois University

Date: June 17, 2018

By Verified Athlete

1.2

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

1.0

2.0

1.0

Tags

Accessible Cool Direct Intense

"Doesn't know Volleyball. Doesn't care about you as a person."

0

Women's Basketball

J.D. Gravina

Women's Basketball Head Coach

Western Illinois University

Date: June 16, 2018

By Verified Athlete

4.2

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

4.0

5.0

4.0

Tags

Accessible Cool Direct Intense

""

0

Women's Volleyball

Kelly Richardson

Women's Volleyball Head Coach

Western Illinois University

Date: September 9, 2017

By Verified Athlete

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Accessible Cool Direct Intense

"Great coach "

0

Women's Volleyball

Dale Starr

Women's Volleyball Head Coach

Robert Morris University (PA)

NCAA DI • Horizon League

Date: June 24, 2017

By Verified Athlete

3.4

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

3.0

4.0

3.0

Tags

Intense Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Accessible

""

0

Men's Football

Charlie Fisher

Men's Football Head Coach

Western Illinois University

NCAA DI - FCS • Skyline Conference

Date: March 30, 2017

By Verified Athlete

5.0

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

5.0

Tags

Accessible Cool Direct Intense

"He's a great leader and a great guy to play for. "

0

Women's Volleyball

Dale Starr

Women's Volleyball Head Coach

Robert Morris University (PA)

NCAA DI • Horizon League

Date: May 10, 2016

By Verified Athlete

2.2

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

2.0

4.0

1.0

Tags

Intense Poor Communication Disorganized Old School Mentality Accessible

""

0

Men's Baseball

Ryan Brownlee

Men's Baseball Head Coach

Western Illinois University

Date: January 13, 2016

By Verified Athlete

3.8

Overall

Caring

Motivational

Knowledgeable

Honest

4.0

3.0

Tags

Accessible Cool Direct Intense

""

0

Ratings

• Colleges

Western Illinois University

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