Professor in applied sport psychology in the School of Kinesiology & Health Sciences at Adams State University since 2014.
Chair for the MS in Applied Sport Psychology graduate program. Brian developed this fully online program in 2016 to serve a need in educating applied sport psychology professionals and those working in human performance settings.
Teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in applied sport psychology and coaching education.
20+ years working with athletes and coaches in a variety of sports from youth level to the Olympic level.
Mental Performance Coach for the Adams State University Cross Country and Track and Field programs from 2014-2019 that have a strong tradition of excellence as evidenced by the 56 national team titles they have won. Assisted in coaching all event groups and provided mental strength training services to the coaches and athletes.
Has worked with the USATF Sport Psychology and Coach Education with athletes and coaches. He was the 2019 NACAC U23 National Team Mental Performance Coach.
Listed on the USOPC Mental Performance Directory since 2014
Founder and Director of the Joe I. Vigil Center for Human Performance and Coach Education at Adams State University.
Research interests are applied sport psychology, coaching and leadership.
Master’s thesis research: Leadership Characteristics of Successful NCAA Division I Track and Field Head Coaches, which was published in USTFCCA Techniques coaching journal.
Dissertation research consisted of case studies of Olympic Track and Field medal winning athletes and coaches from the United States, focusing on the coach-athlete relationship as part of a larger study on the Olympic medal winners from the United States London Games in conjunction with USATF.
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association 2008-2020.
Certified Exercise Physiologist with the American College of Sports Medicine 2009-2021.
Brian has a strong background in applied sport psychology as his mentors and their mentors were some of the leaders in the field. His applied sport psychology education and mentorship came from Dr. Ralph Vernacchia and Dr. Rick Mcguire. Dr. Vernacchia education and mentorship came from Dr. Keith Henschen and Dr. McGuire was taught and mentored by Dr. Bob Rotella.
Through the Missouri Institute for Positive Coaching, Brian served as a member of a team of coaches and educators assisting Dr. Rick McGuire with curriculum development, coaches’ education and instruction, and applied sport psychology services to coaches and athletes. He taught graduate and undergraduate courses in Positive Coaching both online and on campus. He was also a member of the Men4Men Panel dedicated to character education programming for University of Missouri male athletes.
Began his academic career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying Kinesiology with a major in Physical Education and minors in secondary health education and adaptive physical education.
Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sport Science in 2009 Western Washington University.
Master of Science degree in Human Movement and Performance with an emphasis in Applied Sport Psychology under the direction of Dr. Ralph Vernacchia in 2011 Western Washington University.
Doctorate of Philosophy in Health Education and Promotion with an emphasis in Applied Sport Psychology under the direction of Dr. Rick McGuire in 2014 University of Missouri.
Assistant coach with the men’s and women’s cross country and track and field teams at the University of Missouri 2011-2014.
The team had 2 All-Americans in cross country and track and field team had 24 All-Americans.
The women’s team was an Academic All-American team all 3 years in cross country and track and field.
The men’s team was an Academic All-American team 2 years in cross country and 2 years in track and field.
The combined men’s and women’s track and field teams had 45 Academic All-Americans
Assistant coach with the Western Washington University men’s and women’s track and field teams 2008-2011.
The men’s team was conference champions in 2010.
The team had one male 4x national champion, and three female national champions, 26 All-Americans, 21 Academic All-Americans.
He helped coach 7 All-Americans, 4 Academic All-Americans, 24 school record holders, and 16 conference champions.
Student manager for with the University of Wisconsin-Madison men’s track and field team from 2004-2007.
2005 cross country national champions
2007 indoor track and field national champion
9x Big 10 team champions (3x cross country, 3x indoor and 3x outdoor track and field
The team had a 2x national champion in cross country and a 5x national champion in track and field along with 40+ All-Americans, and 19 Academic All-Americans.
Worked under USTFCCCA hall of fame coaches Ed Nuttycombe and Mark Gurthrie
Worked under Coach Jerry Schumacher
In college he was a nationally ranked 3-event water skier.
Brian grew up in Freedom, WI where he played many sports as a youth and competed in cross country, basketball and track and field in high school.