Although they practice all over the country in a variety of sports, the mental skills coaches in this story all have one thing in common: a master’s degree in exercise and sport sciences from Ithaca College.

Students in the sport psychology concentration explore topics like mental toughness and resiliency, confidence, motivation, team development, leadership, and communication. They get real-world experience through coaching and consulting opportunities with teams at IC, Cornell University, and local high schools. They also graduate with applied hours toward the field’s main certification and many become certified mental performance consultants through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.

Alumni go on to join private performance practice firms, set up their own consulting businesses, or pursue doctoral degrees in the field at prestigious programs. In the U.S., the biggest employers in the field are Major League Baseball, the military (or its contractors), and college athletic departments. Most of the professors and alumni mentioned in these pieces have worked or consulted for various teams ranging from youth to national, elite, and professional teams.