Dr Katie Griffes is an assistant professor in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences at SUNY Oneonta, and a mental performance coach for the SUNY Oneonta Athletic Department.
She served as the assistant tennis coach for mental performance at Hartwick College for three years, where she earned the Coaching Staff of the Year award in 2022, helping to guide the program to its first ever NCAA tournament appearance. Dr Griffes has strong ties to the Oneonta Community and is actively involved in creating inclusive sport and education programs with EDD Adaptive Sport, Oneonta Boys and Girls Club, and the Bugbee Children’s Center.
Her research interests include developing life skills and emotion management through sport settings, leadership development in sport, and the impact of mental performance on physical performance. Her approach to mental performance focuses on identifying individual athlete needs, creating cohesive team dynamics where athletes feel satisfied in their team roles, building confidence, and increasing positive self-talk. She works with both individuals one-on-one and with full teams.
Dr Griffes has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Olivet University, where she was a member of the women’s tennis team. She earned her PhD from Michigan State University in Kinesiology and Sport Psychology.
