<p>My guess is that it happens more often in the direction of the athlete backing out before signing. </p>
<p>See this article <a href="http://www.ncaa.org/news/1999/19990315/comment.html#3a%5B/url%5D">http://www.ncaa.org/news/1999/19990315/comment.html#3a</a>
"Comment -- Recruiting promises are running on empty"</p>
<p>If you think about your case, your D would also not be obligated to play for the new coach, she committed to the old coach and maybe had built a good relationship with them. Now, she might face playing for someone totally different, again not the complete package she "verbally" agreed to. The new coach might want to bring in their own set of recruits since nothing has become official yet.</p>
<p>Maybe the old coach will want her to play in their new program. That option might exist. She could try to contact the old coach at least to assist in finding a suitable solution and maybe they would provide recommendations.</p>