Western Illinois University

Women's VolleyballDale Starr

Former Head Volleyball Coach

Western Illinois University

NCAA DI • OVC

5.0

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Would Recommend

Coach Starr was by far the best coach I’ve had. He has high expectations and holds you to those. He cares about his players, he’s a no drama coach, leave it at the door which I respect, you earn your playing time, cares about your academic success, and he loves the game. I’ve had opposite coaches and would much rather have a coach that is not a push over.

Women's VolleyballDale Starr

Former Head Volleyball Coach

Western Illinois University

NCAA DI • OVC

3.4

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Would Recommend

As a parent of a young D1 vball player for Coach Starr, I saw how these ladies acted. It was a year that they struggled. He was the 1st one they call when they were in trouble or needed anything off the court. I saw how the AD never talked positive to him or the team before or after a game. There were a lot of factors playing into this year. The AD had the seniors stirred up and knew what he intentions were. My daughter was looking forward to playing all 4 years for him. She would continue her career with him. This year was a bad year all around for everyone on the team and it started at the top

Women's VolleyballDale Starr

Former Head Volleyball Coach

Western Illinois University

NCAA DI • OVC

1.2

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Would Recommend

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.

Women's VolleyballDale Starr

Former Head Volleyball Coach

Western Illinois University

NCAA DI • OVC

2.6

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Would Recommend

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.

Women's VolleyballDale Starr

Former Head Volleyball Coach

Western Illinois University

NCAA DI • OVC

2.2

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Would Recommend

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.