Mark Abel
Director of Graduate Certificate in High Performance Coaching
Associate Professor
mark.abel@uky.eduThe field of High Performance Coaching is a relatively new profession in the United States that is quickly gaining popularity and creating new employment opportunities. Collegiate and professional teams are hiring High Performance Coaches to optimize athlete development. The role of the High Performance Coach is to collaborate with other team specialists to enhance the performance of the athlete. Traditionally, athletes consulted with Nutritionists, Sport Psychologists, Sports Medicine personnel, and Strength and Conditioning Coaches independently. Contemporarily, it has become the role of the High Performance Coach to collaborate with these professionals, collect additional physiological, wellness, and player load data and integrate this information to enhance performance.
The Certificate curriculum is focused on enhancing the students’ understanding of: physiological and applied concepts related to strength training and conditioning; analytical aspects related to physiological readiness and the stress-response to physiological and psychological stimuli; leadership dynamics within an athletic setting; and psychology of athletic performance. Collectively, students will demonstrate a proficiency in these content areas to provide the foundation for career as a High Performance Coach and the following positions: Sports scientist, High Performance Manager, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Professional Coach, Fitness Coach, Rehabilitation Coach, Performance Analyst, Fitness Advisor, and Sports Science Manager.
Mark Abel
Director of Graduate Certificate in High Performance Coaching
Associate Professor
mark.abel@uky.eduCollege of Education
Department of Kinesiology & Health Promotion
1210 University Drive
Lexington, KY 40506
859-257-4091
