By Vincent DiFonzo, Editor-In-Chief, and Ella Prieto, Managing Editor
Editor’s Note: This article refers to the recent resignation of head women’s soccer coach Matt Garrett, which is covered in more detail in this article.
On Nov. 1, the head coach of the women’s soccer team, Matt Garrett, resigned amid accusations of verbal abuse toward student-athletes.
After a parent petition garnered 69 signatures and called for Garrett’s resignation or termination, various alum, organized by Jayne McGrath ’24 and Morgan Hobson ’24, worked to create a counter-petition in support of Garrett. Since Nov. 7, the petition has amassed 60 signatures, mostly past players and their parents, including one current player and a former assistant coach.
“Matt made the Gettysburg community a better place,” wrote signatory Bethany Taylor ’10. “He also pushed us to strive to be the best players and more importantly, people we can be. It was an honor and a privilege to have played for him.”
Others elaborated on their time with Garrett, saying that while he could be harsh, it was intended to make them better players.
“I would like to emphasize that Coach Garrett was always a very passionate and dedicated coach. I believe that some players may interpret this as harsh or intense at times, but in my view, this was a reflection of his strong desire for our success,” wrote Lauren Miesemer ’19. “I understand that there may be different perspectives on how a coach should motivate their players. However, I believe it is important to take into account the broader context of Coach Garrett’s style, which was always rooted in a genuine passion for the game and a deep investment in the growth of his players in his 18 years as our coach.”
Signatory Sarah Alesio ’13 wrote, “To this day the values and family mentality that Coach Garrett instilled on my teammates (from 2011-2013) and me have carried us through adulthood.”
The petition demanding Garrett’s termination or resignation was sent to President Bob Iuliano, Athletics Director Mike Mattia, VP of Enrollment J. Carey Thompson, Garrett himself on Nov. 1. The next day, it was sent to The Gettysburgian.
The Gettysburgian attempted to contact Garrett’s email for comment on his resignation, but was met with a cease-and-desist letter sent by his lawyer, Christian Dennie, which threatened The Gettysburgian with legal action if any further attempt to contact him is made. In this letter, Dennie wrote that “there is absolutely no truth to these accusations.”
When reached for comment, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Jamie Yates stated, “The College is aware of the concerns raised by some student-athletes and parents about the coaching and leadership style on the women’s soccer team. We have heard from students about how it has affected their passion for a sport they love and for their overall experience on the team.”
The Gettysburgian obtained letters sent to Iuliano and Mattia dating back to 2022 detailing complaints against Garrett.
“Coach Garrett often promoted a toxic culture lashing out at individuals or the whole team from the sidelines of games, at practice and during meetings. [Their daughter] became a frequent target of his negative attention this season, as she tried to work through injury and avoid humiliation,” one of the letters reads. “He’s singled her out multiple times in front of the team telling her how slow she is — often yelling it from the sidelines so even her grandparents had the pleasure of hearing her humiliated.”
With Garrett’s resignation, Athletics is now conducting a nationwide search for a new head coach. The College is “working through the terms of [Garrett’s] resignation, including his final day,” according to Yates.
“We will be conducting a national search to find his replacement shortly. I am hopeful that we are able to attract a quality pool of candidates who will be excited to take the reins of this program and get it back on track,” wrote Mattia in an email to the parents who signed the original parent petition.
