Florida Atlantic University

Men's Cross Country/Track & FieldGeorgette Nixon

Men's Cross Country/Track & Field Assistant Coach / Hurdles / Jumps / Sprints

Florida Atlantic University

NCAA DI • AAC

5.0

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Would Recommend

Georgette Nixon was truly one of a kind. I loved having her as my coach at FAU. She brought such a bubbly, positive personality every day, but she also had high standards and expected us to give our best. What made her so special was that she cared about us not only as athletes, but as people. She was the kind of coach you could call outside of practice when you needed someone, and her office was always a place you could stop by, hang out, or even eat your lunch. She helped me grow tremendously, both mentally and physically, and I’m incredibly grateful for the impact she had on me. And her coaching range is incredible. Her training works, and she is adaptable enough to coach athletes across events — from short sprints 60m-400m to developing top-level 800m runners, including helping producing many top 10 fau all time, school records, conference finalists, & champion in the 800m. That kind of versatility is rare. It honestly makes me sad when I see the other coach receive recognition or credit for work that I know she played such a major role in. As an athlete who experienced her coaching firsthand, I know the impact she had and the work she put in behind the scenes. Her contributions deserve to be recognized!! I truly miss having her at FAU, but I’m so excited to see what’s next for her. Any team would be lucky to have Georgette Nixon leading their program. She’s one of a kind! ❤️

Men's Cross Country/Track & FieldAlex Smolka

Men's Cross Country Head Coach

Florida Atlantic University

NCAA DI • AAC

2.4

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Would Recommend

My experience with Coach Alex Smolka was mixed. There were positive aspects to the coaching style, but I felt there were significant issues with team culture, communication, and how the distance groups were integrated. One of my biggest concerns was the handling of athletes’ personal information. There were instances where personal matters or information about other athletes were discussed in one-on-one meetings. This made me uncomfortable and raised concerns about confidentiality and professionalism. I also felt that favoritism could be an issue. Some athletes appeared to have a closer relationship with the coach, including spending time socially at his home, and this sometimes gave the impression that those athletes received different treatment or opportunities. Regardless of the intent, I think coaches at the college level should be especially careful about maintaining clear and professional boundaries with athletes. I think more intentional efforts to bring the groups together could have created a stronger and more unified team culture. From a competitive-development standpoint, I also would have liked to see more opportunities for athletes to compete in a wider variety of track meets. Having more meets that included different event groups and gave athletes opportunities to gain racing experience would have benefited the overall team. A greater emphasis on exposing athletes to different competitive environments could have made the program more well-rounded. Overall, I would encourage future athletes to consider the coaching style and team culture carefully when evaluating this program. Make sure the training philosophy, communication style, and team culture are a good fit for you. My main concerns were the sustainability of the training, the potential for burnout or injury, professionalism and confidentiality, perceived favoritism, the separation of athletes, and the limited integration of the full team. I believe the program could be improved through stronger confidentiality and professional boundaries, more consistent treatment of athletes, intentional integration of distance and sprint groups, and more varied competitive opportunities.

Women's SoccerPatrick Baker

Women's Soccer Head Coach

Florida Atlantic University

NCAA DI • AAC

1.0

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Would Recommend

This coach consistently played favorites, regardless of performance or effort, and failed to make fair, objective decisions that could have helped the team succeed. Despite poor results, he remained loyal only to a select group of players with whom he had personal relationships. Others were ignored, overlooked, and given no chance to prove themselves—whether in training or in matches. His communication was poor to nonexistent; players were rarely given feedback or told what they needed to do to earn minutes. This lack of transparency created a toxic and discouraging environment where many lost confidence and motivation. What’s most frustrating is that this coach has a history of success at other programs, yet he no longer shows that same level of professionalism or investment at FAU. The program is not held to the standard it deserves. He has clearly given up, and it shows in the way he treats players and manages the team. His behavior is immature, dismissive, and dishonest. I strongly encourage incoming players and their families to think carefully before committing to this program under its current coaching administration.

Men's FootballJoey Guarascio

Men's Football Head Coach / Strength & Conditioning

Florida Atlantic University

NCAA DI - FBS • AAC

5.0

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Would Recommend

Coach Joey trains you to be the best football player you can be!

Men's Swimming & DivingLara Preacco

Men's Swimming & Diving Head Coach / Swimming

Florida Atlantic University

NCAA DI • AAC

1.2

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Would Recommend

Lara is a pathological liar. She will say something completely false to your face and manipulate you into believing it, or manipulate you into doing something that will benefit her, regardless of the consequences towards you. You cannot trust Lara, if you believe you are having a sensitive and vulnerable moment with her, she will turn around and use that information against you on the flip of a coin. She also doesn’t do any recruiting or set writing, and when it comes to her coaching she sits on the pool deck on her phone and lets the lesser paid assistant coach do her job for her. Her coaching comes down to her saying the same two things, tempo and kick, regardless of what the reality of the actual solution is. FAU will be better when she is gone.