Coaches typically require EA applications for their top recruits but they do support athletes in RD. My D was recruited by MIT so I have some experience. The coach was very transparent that he had three kids at the top of his list and that he would support 2 in EA and then the third in RD if one of the first 2 was not accepted. I think that this is common at MIT given the recruiting process. My D ended up turning down the offer for a guaranteed spot at another top school but the overall process played out pretty much as the OP described.
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