Thomas More University
NCAA DII • G-MAC
Date: August 2, 2024
Would Recommend
Tags
This information is for both coaches at Thomas More, Brian Neal and Jillian Miller. As a parent, I believe honesty goes an extremely long way. I am not going to provide too much information but when a player is recruited to your University and you mention as the Head Coach your care for the players and the positive faith based culture you have established for 25+ years, you expect that to be the case. Relationships amongst student-athletes happen but not in a manner that is disruptive to the overall culture that you claimed to establish. Then when that information is brought to your attention, you threaten that individual and I quote, "if you speak with other schools, you will be cut". Two days later Brian Neal resigned and took a position at another University. Now you are willing to cut a player because they want a better situation but you are doing the exact same thing. PARENTS BEWARE, this coach was once a Division I coach, so he knows the tricks of the trade but be sure to ask him on your recruiting visits about how he handles team culture. Small world, we had a playing friend who mentioned she would be attending Ave Maria University, was recruited by the Director of Scouting and then Jillion Miller from my understanding took the lead. The family communicated their pros and cons and the most important question was, how long do you plan to remain at the school. Once again, I quote, "We have a lot of unfinished business with this senior class, I am looking forward to winning a championship". The student-athletes mother than explains to me that her daughter had been trying to communicate with Coach Miller since May and never received a response, not even a courtesy to mention she had taken another position. Now we fully understand coaches need to do what's best for them but don't sell lies if you are actively looking to move places. Both of our daughters are now attending a school for a coach who is no longer working within that University but luckily we choose for the entire school and not their specific sport.