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Message: [QUOTE="gtcam, post: 2851999, member: 2844"] I have been involved in soccer as a coach at many levels in the state of CT since the late 70s. I have worked at Coach M's camps and I have known Coach RR since his SCSU days as player and coach. Coach M could recruit and coach an effective game plan up to the day he retired. I am not a fan of RR's approach to game strategy and have made that point numerous times on this site and even to him and to one person he really listened to - his father. I have been very critical of him in some areas of his coaching. RR has the respect and love of many past players at SCSU and at UConn - I know so many of them and their attitude towards him has not changed. Many of his past players have worked closely with new players at UConn and I have not heard any feedback approaching the level of what bill6319 states. One would think that even the idiot AD David Benedict would be involved if he caught wind that things were/are as bad as Bill6319 portray. An atmosphere as portrayed by Bill cannot be hidden or go unseen. Of course there will be players to whom RR just can't relate or visa versa, that is common. I have faced that with a few extremely talented players who I either cut loose or allowed to leave - it hurt my teams but it is my team and if that player can't play in my environment - adios. Ray Reid does recruit and has been particularly effective in Long Island/Staten Island as well as through his connections overseas and at the numerous academies in the south. To say he doesn't recruit is a flat out BS statement. I know for a fact that he does. Asst Coach Miller does most of the recruiting in the past 2 years - since he joined in 2016. Does he yell, does he sometimes seem to be demeaning? Hell yeah, so did Jim Calhoun, so does Randy Edsall, so does plenty of very successful coaches in any sport at all levels. Joe Morrone said things that would raise the hair on the back of your neck but his kids were tough - not like the spoiled, over sensitive kids of the past 5-10 years. The quotes about "going back to Sweden or a hometown bust" can be heard in practices at the highest levels. Kids (I won't classify these as adults) need to grow a spine. Has RR and his staff ever physically punished or penalized a player? Does it hurt some kids? yeah but only the prima donnas let it affect them negatively and keep it in and then percolate tension by rifling innuendos to fellow players and create irritation. I am not with the team in the intimate manner that Bill6319 says he has enjoyed but I cannot imagine that things are close to being as bad as what he has portrayed. I am not here to call Bill6319 to be less than forthright but it feels to me that he has/had an issue with AC Miller and that has evolved into a disdain to RR. I have met and spoken to Miller on a few occasions and remember him when he was on the staff at Cuse. He was known to be a tireless and relentless recruiter at Duke and as I remember was named one of the top assistant coaches in the nation at Duke and was recognized earlier this year as one of the top 5 ACs to watch in the country. I have heard he can fly off the handle but I would hope if he became as bad as Bill states - it is being looked into. UConn soccer is not at the same level as it once enjoyed - neither is football or mens basketball. In my opinion, I feel it somewhat inappropriate and puzzling why someone would be so pointed and explicit in a forum such as this and not bring it to the attention of the power that be. My hope for the program, which I first watched with my father in the early19 60's where the field ran east to west and there were only 2 benches on one side of the field for teams and no bleachers or lights, will return to the glory days but times are different.... [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach