The University of Akron earlier this month fired its head women’s soccer coach, Jennifer Simonetti. Simonetti was placed on administrative leave in February 2025, and now, new details on what led to her termination have surfaced.
According to WKYC, the University of Akron’s Office of Labor and Employee Relations cited concerns about the mental and physical health of student-athletes when Simonetti was first placed on leave. The HR team proceeded to investigate over the next several months.
The University of Akron earlier this month fired its head women’s soccer coach, Jennifer Simonetti. Simonetti was placed on administrative leave in February 2025, and now, new details on what led to her termination have surfaced.Â
According to WKYC, the University of Akron’s Office of Labor and Employee Relations cited concerns about the mental and physical health of student-athletes when Simonetti was first placed on leave. The HR team proceeded to investigate over the next several months.
That investigation found “complaints against Simonetti dating back to 2023.” Dozens of current and former student-athletes as well as assistant coaches and training staff members, were interviewed for the investigation.
The athletic trainers said, “Simonetti continued to push athletes against the trainer’s recommendations.” And a parent supported that claim, saying, “The girls practice and play hurt because they fear what Jen will do.”Â
Simonetti allegedly blamed a player’s shin pain on her lack of fitness, only for an athletic trainer to find the student-athlete had a high-risk stress fracture. Players reported Simonetti frequently blamed their weight for their injuries and would verbally abuse them, often calling the players “selfish brats.”
Student-athletes also reported that Simonetti would use personal information against them. Simonetti allegedly asked personal questions that were “not in line with what a coach would need to know.”
Since Simonetti was hired in 2022, the team has gone through four athletic trainers, supporting the allegation that Simonetti did not respect the trainers’ opinions.
“She [Simonetti] said that while the current ACH athletic trainer is a great person and book smart, she had no experience as a trainer or athlete when she started with the women’s soccer team,” read the HR department’s report.
After parting ways with Simonetti, the University of Akron announced that assistant coach Maggie Kuhn would be named the interim head coach.
