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I think it just goes to show that after this year at Big East Champs, it should be his last as HC. Consistent decline in points scored over the last 3-4 years. Not many individual or relay champions… Childish behavior and definite anger issues… leaves practices early or doesn’t show and tells us it’s an emergency with his kid. Idk what kind of upper management would allow a highly paid coach to just come and go as he pleases. The point of you being paid is to coach and impart knowledge, but tbh I don’t want his knowledge… Team holds themselves together. Good team culture despite.
I think it just goes to show that after this year at Big East Champs, it should be his last as HC. Consistent decline in points scored over the last 3-4 years. Not many individual or relay champions… Childish behavior and definite anger issues… leaves practices early or doesn’t show and tells us it’s an emergency with his kid. Idk what kind of upper management would allow a highly paid coach to just come and go as he pleases. The point of you being paid is to coach and impart knowledge, but tbh I don’t want his knowledge… Team holds themselves together. Good team culture despite.
The coach has a good understanding of the sport, but he also seems to struggle with anger management issues. There are concerns about his attendance, as it's unclear how many days he's actually missing due to childcare responsibilities that should have been addressed outside of work hours. Only the people on deck really know when he isn't there, as I doubt higher-ups would know what happens on the pool deck since no athlete complains. As he is compensated by Seton Hall to fulfill his coaching duties, it would be beneficial if he could fully commit to his role or otherwise hand off the head coach position to the assistant. Team culture is good.
The coach has a good understanding of the sport, but he also seems to struggle with anger management issues. There are concerns about his attendance, as it's unclear how many days he's actually missing due to childcare responsibilities that should have been addressed outside of work hours. Only the people on deck really know when he isn't there, as I doubt higher-ups would know what happens on the pool deck since no athlete complains. As he is compensated by Seton Hall to fulfill his coaching duties, it would be beneficial if he could fully commit to his role or otherwise hand off the head coach position to the assistant. Team culture is good.
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Women's Swimming & Diving Head Coach
Fluctuating depending on the mood of the coach
Date: March 26, 2023
2.8
Average Rating
Recommended
Overall
2
Caring
4
Motivational
1
Knowledgeable
3
Honest
4
Overall
Caring
Motivational
Knowledgeable
Honest
2
4
1
3
4
Does not take responsibility for mistakes and acts like a child towards his swimmers. Very repetitive in practice sets. Does not encourage his swimmers and holds grudges against a select swimmers and picks them out repetitively to yell at them.
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2.8
Average Rating
Recommended
Women's Swimming & Diving Head Coach
Fluctuating depending on the mood of the coach
Overall
2
Caring
4
Motivational
1
Knowledgeable
3
Honest
4
Overall
Caring
Motivational
Knowledgeable
Honest
2
4
1
3
4
Date: March 26, 2023
Does not take responsibility for mistakes and acts like a child towards his swimmers. Very repetitive in practice sets. Does not encourage his swimmers and holds grudges against a select swimmers and picks them out repetitively to yell at them.
Derek has been the head coach for a while, and it is clear he cannot handle the job. Derek consistantely treats his swimmers with disrespect and doesnt know how to properly output his emotions. He is extremely embarassing and immature when it comes to what makes him upset. He will blow up on the smallest thing and always hold a grudge. if you upset him, good luck getting him to like you ever again. He is an embarassing excuse of a coach.
Derek has been the head coach for a while, and it is clear he cannot handle the job. Derek consistantely treats his swimmers with disrespect and doesnt know how to properly output his emotions. He is extremely embarassing and immature when it comes to what makes him upset. He will blow up on the smallest thing and always hold a grudge. if you upset him, good luck getting him to like you ever again. He is an embarassing excuse of a coach.
I change my answer. He is the worst coach. Treats his swimmer very poorly and doesn’t know how to control his emotions and ends up taking them out on his swimmers. I have had anxiety going to practice for the past month and will until I’m done swimming. Do not come here and definitely do not contact Derek to come to seton hall.
I change my answer. He is the worst coach. Treats his swimmer very poorly and doesn’t know how to control his emotions and ends up taking them out on his swimmers. I have had anxiety going to practice for the past month and will until I’m done swimming. Do not come here and definitely do not contact Derek to come to seton hall.
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Women's Swimming & Diving Head Coach
What you get during recruitment, is not what you get in season. Be careful
Date: April 19, 2022
1.0
Average Rating
Recommended
Overall
1
Caring
1
Motivational
1
Knowledgeable
1
Honest
1
Overall
Caring
Motivational
Knowledgeable
Honest
1
1
1
1
1
Derek has no idea what he’s doing. Says one thing, completely does another. Practices are all the same. Had a great first year with him as HC but every year after was stagnant or declining. Had to practice during open swim hours as I never got enough during normal practices. If I had to do 8x75s again I was going to scream. Gave only his best swimmers, or the ones that complained enough, whatever they wanted. The rest were alway left in limbo. His assistant coaches know more than he does, but kept them sidelined or “doing tasks” while he coached because he wanted the spotlight. He road off the previous HCs coat tails and has declined the program since. Shameful
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1.0
Average Rating
Recommended
Women's Swimming & Diving Head Coach
What you get during recruitment, is not what you get in season. Be careful
Overall
1
Caring
1
Motivational
1
Knowledgeable
1
Honest
1
Overall
Caring
Motivational
Knowledgeable
Honest
1
1
1
1
1
Date: April 19, 2022
Derek has no idea what he’s doing. Says one thing, completely does another. Practices are all the same. Had a great first year with him as HC but every year after was stagnant or declining. Had to practice during open swim hours as I never got enough during normal practices. If I had to do 8x75s again I was going to scream. Gave only his best swimmers, or the ones that complained enough, whatever they wanted. The rest were alway left in limbo. His assistant coaches know more than he does, but kept them sidelined or “doing tasks” while he coached because he wanted the spotlight. He road off the previous HCs coat tails and has declined the program since. Shameful
I believe that Coach Sapp has his flaws just like every other division 1 swim coach. Sure at times, he may not be a good communicator even though he stresses it. And sure he can have trouble from time to time accepting that he is in the wrong. But are there really coaches or people with 0 flaws? Derek's flaws are minuscule and if you take the easy effort to acclimate yourself to how he works, then you will succeed and enjoy your time at Seton Hall. Derek is an amazing coach who knows how to make swimmers better. His practices are hard and always gets the job done at the end of the year. He is insanely caring about your academic life and can sometimes seem like he is hounding you. But in reality, he just wants what's best for you as a swimmer and as a young adult. You must respect and trust a coach for them to respect and trust you. And if you can respect and trust Derek, then the same will be given to you. Derek is one of the most influential and important coaches I have had in my career. Overall, Derek is a very caring coach with every right intention for you as a swimmer and as a young adult. you don't win back 2 back big east titles by not knowing anything about swimming or not caring about your athletes.
I believe that Coach Sapp has his flaws just like every other division 1 swim coach. Sure at times, he may not be a good communicator even though he stresses it. And sure he can have trouble from time to time accepting that he is in the wrong. But are there really coaches or people with 0 flaws? Derek's flaws are minuscule and if you take the easy effort to acclimate yourself to how he works, then you will succeed and enjoy your time at Seton Hall. Derek is an amazing coach who knows how to make swimmers better. His practices are hard and always gets the job done at the end of the year. He is insanely caring about your academic life and can sometimes seem like he is hounding you. But in reality, he just wants what's best for you as a swimmer and as a young adult. You must respect and trust a coach for them to respect and trust you. And if you can respect and trust Derek, then the same will be given to you. Derek is one of the most influential and important coaches I have had in my career. Overall, Derek is a very caring coach with every right intention for you as a swimmer and as a young adult. you don't win back 2 back big east titles by not knowing anything about swimming or not caring about your athletes.
Coach Derek is the most unknowledgeable and unprofessional coach I have ever had. Not only does he lack is social awareness, particularly in interactions with women, but also severely lacks compassion, empathy, and good communication skills. He is unable to separate his personal matters from the pool and often takes frustration or stress out on swimmers. He expects exemplary communication but seldom reciprocates. Outside of his attitude and personality, he is an incompetent coach who never gives helpful or constructive insight into swims. He is unwilling to listen to swimmers needs or suggestions. When issues are brought up, He takes criticism personally and becomes defensive and closes off. He pretends to care however actions do not show. The team is amazing although the culture is entirely created by the team.
Coach Derek is the most unknowledgeable and unprofessional coach I have ever had. Not only does he lack is social awareness, particularly in interactions with women, but also severely lacks compassion, empathy, and good communication skills. He is unable to separate his personal matters from the pool and often takes frustration or stress out on swimmers. He expects exemplary communication but seldom reciprocates. Outside of his attitude and personality, he is an incompetent coach who never gives helpful or constructive insight into swims. He is unwilling to listen to swimmers needs or suggestions. When issues are brought up, He takes criticism personally and becomes defensive and closes off. He pretends to care however actions do not show. The team is amazing although the culture is entirely created by the team.
Derek Sapp comes off as an approachable coach during the recruiting process as a young head coach, but his age definitely shows in his ability to coach or lack thereof. He cares a lot about his swimmers, but sometimes seems to confuse his care for his swimmers, and his care to keep his job. He was the assistant coach for a few years before eventually being promoted to the head coach making him the youngest head coach for swimming and diving in the NCAA at the time. His practices are simple and swimmers that come from an intense swimming background in HS seldom get faster because there is no thought that go into the practices, nor is there room for them to ask for change, because trust he will not part his own ways because of his so called "philosophy." Seton Hall should stop with the inside hires and start fresh with something new because there aren't going to be any new Big East team titles any time soon.
Derek Sapp comes off as an approachable coach during the recruiting process as a young head coach, but his age definitely shows in his ability to coach or lack thereof. He cares a lot about his swimmers, but sometimes seems to confuse his care for his swimmers, and his care to keep his job. He was the assistant coach for a few years before eventually being promoted to the head coach making him the youngest head coach for swimming and diving in the NCAA at the time. His practices are simple and swimmers that come from an intense swimming background in HS seldom get faster because there is no thought that go into the practices, nor is there room for them to ask for change, because trust he will not part his own ways because of his so called "philosophy." Seton Hall should stop with the inside hires and start fresh with something new because there aren't going to be any new Big East team titles any time soon.
Was told when the last coach left there was a large search for a new coach and of course they ended up hiring our assistant. Not a very talented communicator or motivator. Terribly hard to talk to about mental health.
Was told when the last coach left there was a large search for a new coach and of course they ended up hiring our assistant. Not a very talented communicator or motivator. Terribly hard to talk to about mental health.
Derek is a very young head coach. He has some great experience in coaching stroke and sprint, and is working on his distance coaching abilities. He is one of the most caring coaches I have ever had and is trying to do the right thing even though sometimes it is hard to agree with his stance. He cares for the person not just the athlete.
Derek is a very young head coach. He has some great experience in coaching stroke and sprint, and is working on his distance coaching abilities. He is one of the most caring coaches I have ever had and is trying to do the right thing even though sometimes it is hard to agree with his stance. He cares for the person not just the athlete.
Pretends the environment to be something that he did while it was of the efforts of the team.
Lacking the social and intellectual ability to realize how he effects many of us under him, which typically is very poor impact causing much stress, anxiety, confusion, misunderstanding, and blames on others since he has hold in his "position of power"
Pretends the environment to be something that he did while it was of the efforts of the team.
Lacking the social and intellectual ability to realize how he effects many of us under him, which typically is very poor impact causing much stress, anxiety, confusion, misunderstanding, and blames on others since he has hold in his "position of power"
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Continue to Content
Women's Swimming & Diving Head Coach
Date: April 1, 2019
1.2
Average Rating
Recommended
Overall
1
Caring
2
Motivational
1
Knowledgeable
1
Honest
1
Overall
Caring
Motivational
Knowledgeable
Honest
1
2
1
1
1
He lacks necessary knowledge for the overall sport making it incredibly frustrating to swim for him. I swam for him when he was the assistant and he was good when he was being told what to do. Now being head coach it is apparent that this job is too much for him.
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1.2
Average Rating
Recommended
Women's Swimming & Diving Head Coach
Overall
1
Caring
2
Motivational
1
Knowledgeable
1
Honest
1
Overall
Caring
Motivational
Knowledgeable
Honest
1
2
1
1
1
Date: April 1, 2019
He lacks necessary knowledge for the overall sport making it incredibly frustrating to swim for him. I swam for him when he was the assistant and he was good when he was being told what to do. Now being head coach it is apparent that this job is too much for him.
Derek is a new head coach. I swam for him when he was the assistant and then head coach.Derek cares about how swimmers preform but more importantly cares about their well being. As any first time head coach he has a lot to learn which comes with experiance.He is a strong sprint coach/his distance coaching has gotten better.Team atmosphere is great
Derek is a new head coach. I swam for him when he was the assistant and then head coach.Derek cares about how swimmers preform but more importantly cares about their well being. As any first time head coach he has a lot to learn which comes with experiance.He is a strong sprint coach/his distance coaching has gotten better.Team atmosphere is great
He was hired because the SHU administration is more interested in finding coach's that they can push around. From my understanding he was a great assistant coach but undertook a head coaching job to early in his career. Nice man though.
He was hired because the SHU administration is more interested in finding coach's that they can push around. From my understanding he was a great assistant coach but undertook a head coaching job to early in his career. Nice man though.
It's hard to tell if he's trying and falling short or he's being half-caring all the time. Honesty is often sugar-coated. Speeches given are repetitive. Does not take advice or critisism well.
It's hard to tell if he's trying and falling short or he's being half-caring all the time. Honesty is often sugar-coated. Speeches given are repetitive. Does not take advice or critisism well.