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Cornell University Athletics

Sports Psychology, Mental Conditioning & Leadership, 2025 website banner
2025-26 Sports Psychology, Mental Conditioning & Leadership Staff

Dr. Greg Shelley is a nationally renowned consultant, author, speaker, and former professor in the realm of sport leadership, team and culture building, motivation and adherence, interpersonal communications, and sports psychology.

Dr. Shelley works with individuals and groups educating and training student-athletes, teams, coaches, and staffs in the areas of leadership, motivation, team building, culture and character development, communication, conflict resolution, managing performance pressures, training resiliency, and mental toughness. As part of his role, Dr. Shelley directs a comprehensive leadership training program (Cornell Big Red Leaders 2 Leaders), developing leadership skills with over 350 Cornell athletes, across all varsity sports.

• Includes 1-on-1 meetings with student-athletes to personalize performance improvement via managing performance anxieties, enhancing confidence, developing mental toughness and resiliency, building team cohesion, improving interpersonal communications, teammate relationships, motivations, responses to mistakes, coping with injury, as well as developing general life skills.

• Meetings with teams, coaches, and staffs to discuss various team topics and culture building strategies. 

• Directing the Big Red Leaders 2 Leaders (BRL2L) program for selected sophomore, junior, and senior team leaders.

• Facilitating the Big Red Captain’s Council – meeting monthly (fall and spring).

The student-athlete experience at Cornell University engages a holistic and interdisciplinary approach, prioritizing the mental, physical, emotional, academic and athletic well-being of our athletes. We are committed to providing comprehensive support that enhances overall health and performance, empowering student-athletes to excel both on and off the field. Through staff collaboration across a variety of areas and expertise, innovative programs, and a supportive community, we strive to create an environment where every student-athlete can thrive and achieve their full potential.