Danielle Cormier

Background

About Danielle Cormier

I am an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta, where I coordinate the Master of Coaching (MCoach) program. Using mixed methods, my research explores the psychological, social, and pedagogical factors that shape how athletes and coaches learn, perform, and sustain their engagement in sport. I have three intersecting areas of inquiry:(1) understanding and enhancing the psychological characteristics (e.g, grit, self-compassion, mental toughness) that contribute to high-performance athletes’ perceptions of performance and well-being, and (2) advancing equity in sport for self-identified girls and women by identifying the psychological and social mechanisms that support their positive experiences and holistic development. Building on these foundations,(3) my emerging work in coaching studies examines how coaches make sense of, enact, and communicate knowledge in diverse sport environments. This includes studying coaching epistemologies, decision-making, and the design of learning environments that support both athlete development and coach effectiveness. I am passionate about fostering a lifelong love of sport and helping athletes and coaches flourish both within and beyond performance settings. In addition to my academic work, I serve as a mental performance consultant and coach for high-performance sport teams across the Canadian Prairies.