Drew Roff Reviews

Everything that I have read on here could not be more accurate. I would say one of the most alarming things about Drew is that he lies about almost everything and it gets to the point of being so manipulative that you question your own mental sanity and whether or not you are remembering things correctly. So many times and instances that either I experienced or my teammates experienced where he would promise something and completely go back on his word. This makes it incredibly hard to have a functional program because his word means nothing and there is no trust. You don't want to play for someone you don't trust and who constantly screws people over. He also knows NOTHING about his players except a select few. And it's funny, because he really does preach that it's a family and that he knows his players like his kids, but that is straight up false. If you are not a contender to win a major conference award, he will not spend any true time getting to know you, which is completely different than the impression he gives off in the recruiting process. Also, is a complete hypocrite on so many different levels. For example, he always preaches respect, yet would never show it to his players. Examples can be seen in some of my comments above where he lies or shows he does not value who you are, or instances like starting practice more than an hour late (yes, this happened so many times where people who just be sitting in the locker room for an hour + waiting for him to have the decency to start. Therefore, our practice blocks would go from being 2 hours to 4 hours many of the days because he would start late. And if a player even thought about showing up late without a valid reason (test, class, etc) then they would get hell for it and be shamed. Yet, it was okay for Drew to start practices whenever he pleased and disregard everyone else's schedule.....), or times where he would schedule meetings with people and be busy when people showed up...again completely disrespecting people's time. In all, he really is such a poor coach. In the past couple years, about 4-6 people transfer out of his program or stop playing mid season because he is just that bad...that is not normal. The classes that he starts with freshman year are never the ones he ends with senior year. And yes, to address the review before this, there are some also pretty serious things that have taken place that I witnessed that I don't feel comfortable sharing on here. If you are a recruit, parent, etc, stay away from him truly. You will see someone with such a passion for the game go into his program and come out broken. I wish I could tell my younger self to stay away from him.

I write this as a warning to any recruit or interested player. Drew Roff is NOT someone you want to be coached by. On paper, he looks like a great guy and a big family man. When I first started talking to him, nothing seemed to be wrong and he seemed like a genuine coach, hence I committed to play for his program. But the minute you become a player in his program, you become subjected to his emotional abuse and straight up manipulation. So many people enter his program with such a love for the sport and end up leaving completely burned out and hating the game. He prides himself on knowing his players on a deeper level and being super approachable but that could not be further from the truth. Aside from maybe 3-4 players on the team, he does not care to learn anything about who you are. He consistently lies and then tries to manipulate players into thinking they are the problem. Also, do not trust anything he says in the recruiting process. Every single player he talks to he promises the world and once he actually gets you on campus that could not be further from the truth. And before this gets dismissed as someone who was upset they didn't get playing time or whatever he tries to say when people speak up about his toxic coaching and manipulation...this is coming from someone who was a starter and got some serious awards and accolades. I can't even imagine the experience of the people who don't play and those who he does not value (which he makes no point to hide from what I've witnessed). Furthermore, not only is he a horrible coach, but there are some pretty disturbing things that also take place in that program. In short, if you are looking to be coached under him, go somewhere else, it is not worth your mental health and sanity.

Several years removed and a collegiate coach myself now, he is truly unequipped for the job he has. With 8 seasons at the helm, he had one good year and is back to his substandard record - very resistant to change and doesn’t like to take accountability for his role in team failure. Complaints were made for years in exit interviews to administration and they never believed players or cared about their negative experiences. Has always focused his time and energy only on the youngest and newest players that will “turn things around” for him and is not a player developer. Is very awkward in communication settings and isn’t clear about his expectations. Is fairly knowledgeable about the game but isn’t great at communicating his ideas. Cannot help you achieve his vision of what he wants your position to do - you either do it to his standard or you don’t, there isn’t much guidance on how to get there if you’re not there already. I still hear horror stories to this day of players getting swept under the rug after major medical emergencies. Little to no regard for who you are as a person. You will dedicate your life to this program for four years, and be forgotten the second you step off campus. Be prepared to be mentally broken and hate the game by the time you leave.

One of the worst coaches I have ever played for in my entire career, will not give you opportunities to prove yourself, does not play off his bench, will promise you things while recruiting that he either cannot or will not follow up on. He plays favorites, and once you are no longer one, he will probably not play you either. Very temperamental.

I struggled with adjusting and a mental illness my first season so he put me on the back burner and didn’t care about me the rest of my career. Constantly tried to get me to quit. I’d try to get feedback and he’d tell me one thing so I’d fix it and then suddenly it was another thing. He does not develop any of his players but maybe 1 or 2.

He is the worst coach I’ve ever played for in my entire life. He ruins the game for so many players and makes it very hard to continue wanting to play. He plays favorites so badly. His results are terrible but he will never change. He does not care about his players on a personal level, and trying to get coaching feedback from him is impossible.

Does not give players a chance to prove themselves since he’s made up his mind about the lineup since before each player even gets there. Consider yourself lucky if you saw any development at all. It’s impossible to get any kind of constructive feedback.

Not approachable. Plays favorites and is not fair with playing time to people who deserve it. Hasn’t changed the program since taking over

Great soccer knowledge. Has plenty experience playing and coaching soccer. Turned Purdue's program around in a short amount of time.

Overall great coach! He has turned the program around in his short time being here.