Mission Statement

The Vanderbilt University Sport Performance Leadership Team, through a collaborative effort, is dedicated to maximizing the physical and mental performance of each athlete through an evolving and dynamic individualized approach.

Staff

Applied Sports Science
Tyler Clarke: Assistant Athletic Director for Sport Performance and Sport Science

Medical
Dr. Robert “Warne” Fitch: Vanderbilt Athletics Head Team Physician
Assistant Professor • Department of Orthopedic Surgery

Sports Medicine
Justin Wenzel: Assistant Director • Athletic Training • Rehabilitation Coordinator

Strength and Conditioning
Chris Ham: Associate Athletic Director for Sport Performance and Student-Athlete Well Being • Baseball

Collaboration Opportunities

If interested in research or product development collaboration opportunities please contact Tyler Clarke at tyler.s.clarke@vanderbilt.edu.

Mission Statement

The Vanderbilt University Olympic Sports Strength and Conditioning Department relentlessly works every day to provide the best collegiate sports training atmosphere in the nation. Evidence based training practices and design are the foundation of department operations. An emphasis on collaboration between strength and conditioning, sports nutrition, sports medicine, applied sports science, mental performance, and tactical training provides student athletes with the necessary tools to compete, win, and achieve excellence.

Staff

Tyler Clarke: Assistant Athletic Director for Sport Performance and Sport Science
Track and Field, Men’s Cross Country, Women’s Cross Country

Marcus Edwards: Strength and Conditioning Coach
Men’s Basketball

Chris Ham: Associate Athletic Director for Sport Performance and Student-Athlete Well Being

Allison Randall: Strength and Conditioning Coach
Women’s Basketball

Darren Edgington: Strength and Conditioning Coach
Bowling, Men’s Golf, Soccer

Walker Grisanti: Strength and Conditioning Coach
Baseball

Josh Willhite: Strength and Conditioning Coach
Lacrosse, Swimming, Women’s Golf, Women’s Tennis

Gavin Walker: Associate Strength and Conditioning Coach
Track and Field, Cross Country, Men’s Tennis

Hunter Reeser: Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
Baseball

Facilities

Internship Opportunities

If interested in internship opportunities with Vanderbilt Athletics’ Olympic sports strength and conditioning team, please contact Josh Willhite (joshua.c.willhite@vanderbilt.edu).

Mission Statement

The Student-Athlete Mental Health and Performance Team is dedicated to the growth and development of Vanderbilt University student-athletes as individuals, students, and athletes. We teach athletes and teams how to develop, train, and implement mental skills, strategies, and techniques that are used to enhance performance during training and competition. We also help individuals address concerns related to mental health, managing adversity, and developing psychological and emotional awareness and intelligence.

Staff

Julie Sutcliffe • Assistant Athletic Director • Sport Psychology

Marlon Bailey • Athletics Mental Health Provider

Learn More

What is Sport and Performance Psychology?
Sport and performance psychology trains the mental aspects of sport that influence how well an athlete performs. This often involves the development and implementation of mental skills, strategies, and techniques an athlete can use to enhance their mindset and their athletic performance.

How is sport and performance psychology different from mental health?
Mental health is a term used to describe our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. Although mental health influences our ability to use mental skills and strategies during training and competition, it is a broader concept that relates to our overall health and wellbeing. Sport and performance psychology is more specific to athletics and the ability to manage our mindset. When an athlete uses the skills and strategies they learn through sport and performance psychology, they are able to enhance their athletic performance and achieve greater levels of success.

How do sport and performance psychology and mental health relate to each other?
There is a lot of overlap between sport and performance psychology and mental health. Many of the skills used to enhance sport performance can be used in everyday life (i.e. academics, relationships, work, communicating with others, etc.). In addition, when an athlete has a positive (or negative) experience within their sport, it influences their sense of mental health and wellbeing. Similarly, a student-athlete’s mental health influences how well they are able to use the mental skills they have developed. Thus, these two areas regularly interact and influence each other. This adds to the importance of addressing both an athlete’s mental skills and strategies as well as their mental, emotional, and social wellbeing.

A note on confidentiality and privacy
The Mental Health and Performance team collaborates with Sports Medicine as part of an integrated healthcare team. As such, there are some instances in which it is appropriate to consult and collaborate with the Sports Medicine staff. When this occurs, only pertinent information is disclosed (e.g. attending appointments, safety of student, etc.). Information is NOT shared with coaches, strength and conditioning staff, administrators, teammates, or family members, however, if a student-athlete wants these individuals to be aware of their concerns, they may give the Mental Health and Performance team permission to consult with them via verbal consent or a signed release of information. Outside of the instances outlined above, information shared by a student-athlete during Mental Health and Performance appointments is treated as confidential for those 18 years of age or older except in instances where disclosure is required by law (i.e., threat of harm to self/others; court order; abuse or neglect of a child).

Services

Services offered to Vanderbilt Student-Athletes

• Sport and Performance Psychology
  • Building confidence and trusting your abilities
  • Managing expectations and pressure
  • Staying focused and concentrating
  • Self-talk
  • Letting go of mistakes
  • Managing energy levels (relaxing / hyping up)
  • Taking risks (too many or not enough)
  • Performance slumps
  • Maintaining motivation and joy in your sport
  • Recovering from injury
  • Team leadership
  • Team culture
  • Team cohesion / “team chemistry”
  • Communicating with coaches and teammates
• Mental Health
  • Individual therapy
  • Group therapy / focus groups
  • Anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns
  • Adjusting to college and life away from home
  • Isolation, loneliness, home-sickness
  • Family concerns
  • Relationship issues
  • Academic concerns
  • Identity development
  • Matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Trauma / abuse
  • Alcohol and other drug abuse or misuse
  • Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating
  • ADHD/LD Assessments
  • ETC

If you need immediate assistance for a mental health crisis / emergency

• Call 911
• Go to the closest emergency room/ hospital
• UCC Urgent Care:  https://www.vanderbilt.edu/ucc/services/urgent-care-counseling/
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline: call 1-800-273-8255 or visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741-741 –OR –text CONNECT to 85511
• Trevor Project/Lifeline (LGBTQI+): call 1-866-488-7386 or visit https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Making an appointment
Student-athletes can schedule an appointment via the UCC Student Portal, their team athletic trainer, or contacting our staff directly. When using the UCC Student Portal, please confirm that you are scheduling an athletics appointment with one of the providers dedicated to the athletic department.

Coaches / Teams
Vanderbilt athletics coaches and staff are welcome to consult with the Mental Health and Performance Team. We can provide support around a variety of concerns, including: building team culture, managing discord within a team, communication between coaches and athletes, ongoing team-wide performance enhancement sessions, etc.

Important Links

VU Student-Athlete Mental Health and Performance

Scheduling an appointment / UCC Student Portal

Suicide Prevention Lifeline: call 1-800-273-8255

Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741-741 –OR –text CONNECT to 85511

Vanderbilt University Counseling Center

Mission Statement

The Vanderbilt University Applied Sports Science Department provides a dynamic and continuously evolving competitive advantage to all Vanderbilt student athletes and coaches through the comprehensive collection, analysis, and communication of training and competition data while collaborating with world class practitioners locally, nationally, and internationally.

About

The Vanderbilt University Applied Sports Science Department was created in 2021.  The daily operations of the department, directed by Tyler Clarke, center around the goal of increasing the athletic performance and decreasing the risk of injury for all Vanderbilt student athletes.  In pursuit of this goal, the department focuses on the following functions:

• Research and Development
• Staff and Athlete Education
• Data Collection
• Data Management and Analysis
• Athlete Functional Evaluation
• Training Technology Vetting and Implementation
• Performance Community Outreach

Collaboration Opportunities

If interested in research or product development collaboration opportunities please contact Tyler Clarke at tyler.clarke@vanderbilt.edu.

Internship Opportunities

If interested in internship opportunities with the Vanderbilt University Applied Sports Science Department, please contact Tyler Clarke at tyler.clarke@vanderbilt.edu.

Mission Statement

The Vanderbilt Sports Nutrition staff is committed to fueling and educating student athletes on an individual basis for optimal performance both on the field and in the classroom. We are founded based on a food-first philosophy backed by sound scientific research. We strive to provide our athletes with the knowledge to increase athletic performance, decrease illness and injury, and achieve optimal long-term health.

Vision

To develop a sound nutrition department that is the benchmark for success providing our student athletes research-based resources needed to excel both on the field and in the classroom.

Social Media

Follow Vanderbilt Sports Nutrition on Instagram.

Staff

Julia Baird: Director · Sports Nutrition
Jasmine Gilbert: Sports Dietitian
Paige Canfield: Sports Dietitian
Maddie Nash: Sports Dietitian
Lauryn Billie: Sports Dietitian