Daniel Gould

Daniel Gould, PhD, is the director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports and a professor in the department of kinesiology at Michigan State University. He has taught sport psychology for more than 35 years. An active researcher, Gould was the founding coeditor of The Sport Psychologist and has published more than 200 articles on sport psychology. He is best known for conducting applied research that links research and practice.

Gould was voted one of the top 10 sport psychology specialists in North America and is internationally known, having presented his work in more than 30 countries. When on the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he received the university’s coveted Alumni Teaching Excellence Award, an all-campus teaching honor. He is certified as a consultant by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry.

Gould is the former president of AASP and SHAPE America’s Sport Psychology Academy. In addition to teaching sport psychology, he is extensively involved in coaching education, from youth sports to Olympic competition. He also serves as a mental skills training consultant for professional, Olympic, and world-class athletes. In recent years he has served as an executive coach for business leaders interested in enhancing their organizations’ performance.

He lives in Okemos, Michigan, with his wife, Deb. He is a proud father of two sons, Kevin and Brian. In his leisure time, he enjoys swimming, doing fitness activities, and spending time with his family.