Temple University Athletics
Temple Athletics Hires First Full-Time Mental Health Specialist
12.5.17 | General
PHILADELPHIA – Dr. Stephany Coakley, a certified mental performance consultant and licensed professional counselor with a doctorate in exercise and sport science with a concentration in sports psychology, has been named Senior Associate Athletic Director for Mental Health, Wellness and Performance. With the appointment, Dr. Coakley becomes the first full-time mental health specialist with the Temple University Department of Athletics.
"Mental health has been an area of concern for not just Temple University Athletics, but nationally," said Temple's Director of Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. "Hiring a full-time professional has been a goal since I arrived at the University, and with the addition to our staff of Dr. Stephany Coakley we have taken a giant step in helping address a glaring need of our student-athletes."
"I would like to thank Dr. Kraft and the Temple administration for first, taking this progressive step in regards to the mental health and student-athletes, and second, selecting me for this very important role," said Dr. Coakley. "The stigma associated with mental health has been such a barrier to total wellness. At Temple we will take the necessary steps to destigmatize health conditions that affect the mind. Providing services for mental health is vital, not just in sport, but also in life. I am looking forward to making Temple Athletics a model program in terms of assessment, intervention, treatment and support."
Coakley, who earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from Temple, returns to her alma mater with an impressive resume. Since 2003, the Nassau, Bahamas native has worked as a certified mental performance consultant with Maximum Mental Training Associates in Washington, D.C. There, Coakley coordinated mental health and wellness services for college student-athletes, as well as Olympians and professionals. Her duties included designing and coordinating mental health strength and conditioning programs for multiple and diverse sports; assessing psychological issues impacting athletes in the program; and performing robust evaluations to measure effectiveness and efficiency in order to improve and strengthen existing programs and establish new ones.
In 2007, Coakley, who earned her doctorate at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, began working at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. In her position as a master resilience trainer-performance expert, she managed performance enhancement interventions for Basic Combat Training recruits, Warriors in Transition, Army nurses and other military personnel. She also provided master resilience training to senior non-commissioned officers to improve their mental strength, readiness and resilience through the deployment cycle.
Coakley, who has served as an adjunct professor at three schools (Winston-Salem State, Salem College, Bowie State University), has presented at numerous workshops and panels on a variety of mental health and wellness topics over the last 20 years. Her areas of expertise include: mental skills training and mastery, personal player development, sport career transitions (SCT), injury and rehabilitation, positive youth development through sport, parenting well-rounded athletes, managing anxiety and other emotions, coping with pressure, building confidence, maintaining motivation, attention control, and military performance enhancement.
"Mental health has been an area of concern for not just Temple University Athletics, but nationally," said Temple's Director of Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. "Hiring a full-time professional has been a goal since I arrived at the University, and with the addition to our staff of Dr. Stephany Coakley we have taken a giant step in helping address a glaring need of our student-athletes."
"I would like to thank Dr. Kraft and the Temple administration for first, taking this progressive step in regards to the mental health and student-athletes, and second, selecting me for this very important role," said Dr. Coakley. "The stigma associated with mental health has been such a barrier to total wellness. At Temple we will take the necessary steps to destigmatize health conditions that affect the mind. Providing services for mental health is vital, not just in sport, but also in life. I am looking forward to making Temple Athletics a model program in terms of assessment, intervention, treatment and support."
Coakley, who earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from Temple, returns to her alma mater with an impressive resume. Since 2003, the Nassau, Bahamas native has worked as a certified mental performance consultant with Maximum Mental Training Associates in Washington, D.C. There, Coakley coordinated mental health and wellness services for college student-athletes, as well as Olympians and professionals. Her duties included designing and coordinating mental health strength and conditioning programs for multiple and diverse sports; assessing psychological issues impacting athletes in the program; and performing robust evaluations to measure effectiveness and efficiency in order to improve and strengthen existing programs and establish new ones.
In 2007, Coakley, who earned her doctorate at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, began working at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. In her position as a master resilience trainer-performance expert, she managed performance enhancement interventions for Basic Combat Training recruits, Warriors in Transition, Army nurses and other military personnel. She also provided master resilience training to senior non-commissioned officers to improve their mental strength, readiness and resilience through the deployment cycle.
Coakley, who has served as an adjunct professor at three schools (Winston-Salem State, Salem College, Bowie State University), has presented at numerous workshops and panels on a variety of mental health and wellness topics over the last 20 years. Her areas of expertise include: mental skills training and mastery, personal player development, sport career transitions (SCT), injury and rehabilitation, positive youth development through sport, parenting well-rounded athletes, managing anxiety and other emotions, coping with pressure, building confidence, maintaining motivation, attention control, and military performance enhancement.
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