University of Rhode Island
NCAA DI • A-10
Date: August 31, 2024
Would Recommend
Tags
Whitney has dedicated her life to the game of softball. She is incredibly knowledgable, experienced, and has high expectations, which, is in fact, everything an athlete could want in a coach if they want to play at a high level. As I read through these posts, it looks highly sensationalized. The complaints posted sounds *nothing* like Whitney as a coach or person. She holds herself and her position as a coach to a high standards. She eats, sleeps, and breathes softball. Being a parent, you always want to defend your child, and that is super justifiable; however, you also have to accept your child's capabilities and limitations. Sometimes parents and/or their child aren't ready for D1, and that's okay, but you have to accept that and figure out other options that fit you best. I didn't love my D1 experience (admittedly, I probably wasn't ready for D1) but was it good for me? ABSOLUTELY!!! There was a time where my dad had written a letter to our coach, and never sent it. I handled it myself and learned hard skills like assertive communication, and speaking up for yourself, which is what I wish more players could do these days, rather than having their parents fight their battles that they weren't prepared for (ie. how to handle adversity and conflict when you leave home). So now there are bitter parents and players coming on here to take down a really exceptional person, coach, mom, and wife, ....and her parents?!?! It sounds to me like the players who Whitney inherited are upset and throwing a fit because Whitney was trying to improve the level of softball at URI, much like she tried to at WPI, which is not what they signed up for; they signed up to play mediocre softball and didn't want to grow or be challenged. Whitney is one of the most passionate and professional coaches I have known. I would want my daughter to play for and learn from her, because I have taught my daughter that in order to get better at something, you have to work really hard, and be coachable. Both things that you need at this level.