Expert Details
Health, Wellness & Human Performance Expert: Sport Science & Exercise Physiology
ID: 740760
Georgia, USA
Expert's career has spanned senior sport science and health leadership positions within professional sports organizations, including service as Senior Director of Sport Science & Health for an NBA franchise, where Expert led strength and conditioning, medical, recovery, and analytics functions and directed the organization's COVID-19 response taskforce. Expert also held an executive research and development leadership role at a Fortune 50 consumer products company, directing a global sport science research institute with international laboratory operations, a multimillion-dollar budget, and involvement in high-profile projects including NFL Super Bowl sport science programming and applied athlete hydration monitoring technology developed in connection with international soccer competition.
Expert has held academic faculty appointments at multiple universities, most recently serving as a Professor of Sport Health Science and Director of Sport Science Research, and has served in senior sport science and coaching education leadership roles for a national tennis governing body, overseeing multiple athletic training centers and sport science committees. Expert co-founded the world's first tennis-specific physical training education and certification association, which has certified members in 50+ countries, and founded an independent human performance consulting company whose clients have included major collegiate athletics governing bodies, professional sports leagues, Ivy League universities, national Olympic committees, and major consumer products brands. Expert currently serves as Vice President of Health & Human Performance for a leading resort healthcare company, overseeing a multi-department health and wellness organization across multiple properties.
Expert has authored numerous books, peer-reviewed book chapters, and journal articles on tennis-specific physiology, biomechanics, and injury prevention, has held extensive editorial and peer review roles for leading sports science and medicine journals, and has delivered more than 100 keynote and invited presentations across five continents. Expert has received numerous professional honors, including fellowship status with the American College of Sports Medicine and the International Tennis Performance Association, and has served on numerous boards, advisory boards, and professional committees spanning sports medicine, sports technology, and collegiate and professional athletics organizations.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2007 | Degree: PhD | Subject: Exercise Physiology | Institution: The University of Alabama |
| Year: 2004 | Degree: MEd | Subject: Exercise Science | Institution: Auburn University |
| Year: 2002 | Degree: BS | Subject: Exercise Science | Institution: Auburn University |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2016 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: CEO and Institute Director | Department: |
Responsibilities:Science-based institute focused on elite individuals looking to optimize performance in sport, business and life. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2014 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Player Development Consultant | Department: |
Responsibilities:Additional concurrent roles: USTA Medical Advisory Group for the US Open (2020–2024); Health and Safety Advisor, Western and Southern Open (2021); Medical Director and Tournament Operations, Laver Cup (2021). |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2012 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Co-Founder & Executive Director | Department: |
Responsibilities:Co-founded the first tennis-specific physical training education and certification association in the world, certifying members in 50+ countries; founded the industry's first World Tennis Fitness Conference. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2023 to 2025 | Employer: Canyon Ranch Wellness Resort | Title: Vice President, Health & Performance | Department: |
Responsibilities:Led 300+ employees across 5 properties for the only resort healthcare company in the U.S., overseeing 11 departments (medical, nutrition, sports medicine, performance science, mental health, fitness, health coaching, and others) serving thousands of guests/patients; serves on executive leadership with full P&L responsibility. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2021 to 2023 | Employer: Life University | Title: Professor, Sport Health Science and Director of Sport Science Research | Department: |
Responsibilities:Life University is a private university focused on training chiropractors and located in Marietta, Georgia. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2019 to 2021 | Employer: Cleveland Cavaliers | Title: Senior Director, Sport Science & Health | Department: |
Responsibilities:Directed strength & conditioning, nutrition, medical, analytics, recovery, sleep, load management, and mental health/performance functions; led the organization's COVID-19 taskforce (first NBA team to reopen its training facility after pandemic restrictions); developed a full athlete load-management program; served as Health Education Officer. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2014 to 2015 | Employer: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) | Title: Founding Sport Science Consultant | Department: |
Responsibilities:Reported to the Chief Medical Officer on overuse injury prevention and periodization/scheduling for collegiate sport. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2014 to 2014 | Employer: Pepsico | Title: Long-Term Research & Development Consultant | Department: |
Responsibilities:Focused on wearable technology, athlete monitoring, and facility design projects. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2012 to 2014 | Employer: Pepsico | Title: Director, Gatorade Sport Science Institute (GSSI) | Department: Gatorade |
Responsibilities:• Held an executive position at a Fortune 50 company, overseeing GSSI research labs in Chicago, Florida, and the UK, managing 20 full-time staff and an $8 million cross-divisional budget.• Oversaw planning of an $8–10 million flagship GSSI research facility; led a multi-year hydration-monitoring technology project (including associated patent development) developed for a national soccer federation ahead of a World Cup. • Led GSSI involvement at two NFL Super Bowls and served as liaison to major sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, EPL) and sport science associations. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2008 to 2012 | Employer: United States Tennis Association | Title: Senior Manager, Coaching Education/Strength & Conditioning/Sport Science | Department: Player Development |
Responsibilities:• Directed coaching education and sport science programs; oversaw 3 athletic performance training centers testing/training 800+ athletes annually, 6 full-time staff, and 4 budgets totaling over $1 million.• Served as Editor of the USTA High Performance Coaching Newsletter and administered a 12-member USTA Sport Science Committee; oversaw healthcare provider services for 40+ USTA Pro Circuit events. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2007 to 2011 | Employer: Various Universities | Title: Concurrent Adjunct/Visiting Academic Appointments | Department: |
Responsibilities:Held adjunct and visiting faculty positions across multiple institutions — St. Thomas University, Florida Atlantic University, and Jacksonville State University — teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in exercise physiology, kinesiology, athletic administration, sport psychology, and coaching behavior, progressing from Adjunct Instructor to Assistant Professor. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2007 to 2007 | Employer: Sunstone LLC | Title: Director of Leadership Performance | Department: |
Responsibilities:Consulted with organizations across the southeastern U.S. using Baldrige performance excellence criteria. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2004 to 2005 | Employer: International Fitness Professionals Association (IFPA) | Title: Director, IFPA Tennis & Fitness Academy; Director of Education, IFPA | Department: |
Responsibilities:Designed and coordinated health/fitness certifications and continuing education courses. |
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Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Cameron v. University of North Carolina at Charlotte, et al., (3:19-CV-221) - North Carolina Department of Justice Case 2015 - Involved in multiple depositions as well. |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| Board Roles (selected): Intercollegiate Tennis Association (2016–2018, 2025–2027; Special Advisor 2021–2023); Society of Tennis Medicine & Science (Treasurer 2012–2014; Board 2015–2020); Intercollegiate Men's Tennis Hall of Fame (2021–Present); Canyon Ranch Tucson Medical P.C. (2024–Present) Advisory Boards (selected): International Society of Sports Nutrition (2011–Present); Racquetfit Tennis Advisory Board (Chair, 2017–Present); ATHOS Performance Advisory Board (Chair, 2017–2019); U.S. Golf Association Athlete Development Advisory Group (2024); several sports technology and venture advisory boards (2015–2025) Committees/Commissions (selected): ITF Health Benefits of Tennis Taskforce (Chair, 2012–2015); PTR Sport Science Committee (Chair, 2012–2017); USTA National Sport Science Commission (2013–2024); ACSM Clinical Sports Medicine Leadership and Team Physician Consensus Committees (2018–2021); USTA/Cleveland Cavaliers COVID-19 Taskforces (2020–2023); NSCA National Finance and Investment Committees (2011–2014) Conference Chair/Organizer roles: 20+ major sport science and tennis medicine conferences organized or chaired (2008–2024), including multiple iTPA World Tennis Fitness Conferences, Baseball & Sports Performance Conferences, and USTA/NYU tennis medicine conferences. Memberships: American College of Sports Medicine; National Strength & Conditioning Association; USPTA; PTR; iTPA; International Society of Sports Nutrition; AAHPERD; Phi Kappa Phi (Lifetime); American Scholars National Honor Society (Lifetime) |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| • Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), National Strength & Conditioning Association • Certified ACSM Health & Fitness Specialist, American College of Sports Medicine • Master Tennis Performance Specialist (MTPS), Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS), and Tennis Performance Trainer (TPT), International Tennis Performance Association • USPTA (P1) Certified Tennis Coach; Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) 10 and Under Professional • Certified USATF Level I & II Sprints Coach • Certified Endurance Sports Trainer, National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association (NESTA) • Certified Athlete Development Specialist, Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists (PAADS) • Racquetfit Certification • CPR & First Aid Certification, American Red Cross |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| • Fellow, American College of Sports Medicine • Fellow, International Tennis Performance Association • U.S. Olympic Committee "Doc" Counsilman Award for Sport Science in Coaching • International Tennis Hall of Fame Educational Merit Award • Professional Tennis Registry Plagenhoef Award for Lifetime Contributions to the Sport Sciences • Professional Tennis Registry Member of the Year • Journal of Medicine & Science in Tennis Best Research Study Award • NSCA Strength and Conditioning Editorial Excellence Award • Auburn University College of Education Outstanding Young Alumni Award • Outstanding Doctoral Student Award, College of Education • Auburn University Graduate School Outstanding Student Award • 2002 NCAA National Tennis Champion (doubles) and All-American, collegiate varsity tennis • Keynote speaker on 5 continents |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Patents: Contributed to development of patents for a smart-bottle hydration monitoring system developed for a national soccer federation ahead of a World Cup, during a corporate R&D leadership role. Books: Author/co-author of 9 published books and editions (2004–2019) on tennis conditioning, anatomy, stretching, and recovery, including two editions each of two widely used tennis conditioning/anatomy textbooks. Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters: 14, covering tennis-specific strength and conditioning, biomechanics, periodization, recovery, and youth athlete injury prevention (2009–2019). Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles: 35+, on tennis physiology, biomechanics, injury trends/prevention, hydration/nutrition, and performance analytics (2004–2022). Magazine/Trade Publications (non-peer-reviewed): 25+, including a feature in a major national newspaper analyzing professional tennis technique and numerous columns in tennis/fitness trade publications (2003–2018). Scientific Posters & Conference Papers: 25+, presented at major sports medicine and strength & conditioning conferences (2004–2015). Editorial Roles: Assistant Editor-in-Chief and Associate Editor of a major strength & conditioning journal; guest editor for a tennis-specific special issue; ongoing editorial board service for 6 peer-reviewed journals; reviewer for 14 academic journals in sports medicine, physiology, and biomechanics (2004–present). Educational Media: Author/presenter of 15+ instructional DVD/online video courses on tennis technique, conditioning, and injury prevention (2004–2016). |
Fields of Expertise
tennis, dehydration (medical), Power sports, sports, health and wellness, wellness, exercise physiology, human environmental physiology, human physiology, skeletal muscle physiology, golf, longevity, hospitality industry, sports nutrition, sport science, human performance, Strength and Conditioning, Tennis Performance, Athletic Injury Prevention, Hydration Science, Recovery Science, Sport Science Leadership, Athletic Program Management, Sports Medicine Research