Meet Coach Gunn
Helping Athletes Unlock the Performance
They Already Have Within Them
Coach Gunn is the CEO and founder of Mind Academy Sports, an organization he established in 2016 with a mission to help athletes break through the mental barriers that prevent their physical ability from showing up when it matters most.
Over the years, Coach Gunn has worked with hundreds of athletes, ranging from youth competitors to professional athletes, including multiple Division I athletes competing at some of the highest levels of college sports. He has also worked with athletes who have competed on some of the biggest stages in sports, including March Madness.
But Coach Gunn’s approach goes far beyond simply telling an athlete to “be confident.”
The Psychology Behind Performance
Education Built Around Human Performance
2013
Bachelor's in Psychology
2017
Master's in Applied Behavior Analysis
2+ Years
Certified Mental Toughness Coach
Coach Gunn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Trine University, which he earned in 2013, as well as a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University, earned in 2017.
His academic background gave him a deep understanding of psychology, behavior, learning, and the factors that influence human performance.
He then took his education even further by becoming a Certified Mental Toughness Coach, studying under legendary mental performance coach Craig Sigl for more than two years.
The combination of formal education, specialized mental performance training, and years of working directly with athletes became the foundation for Coach Gunn’s approach to mental performance.
That knowledge ultimately helped cultivate his proprietary system:
Proprietary System
The R.A.C.E. Formula 2.0
The R.A.C.E. Formula 2.0 is Coach Gunn's systematic approach to identifying and eliminating the mental barriers that can prevent athletes from performing at their true potential.
Because mental blocks rarely look the same from athlete to athlete.
One athlete may struggle with fear of failure.
Another may constantly second-guess themselves.
Another may perform exceptionally well in practice but struggle when the pressure rises.
Another may have developed limiting beliefs about what they are capable of achieving.
And sometimes, the athlete doesn’t even realize what is holding them back.
Coach Gunn’s approach is designed to go beneath the surface and identify what is actually interfering with performance.
The objective isn't simply to make an athlete "think positive."
It's to identify the mental patterns, beliefs, fears, and behaviors that are interfering with performance, and systematically work to eliminate them.
More Than a Coach
Understanding the Athlete Behind the Athlete
One of Coach Gunn’s greatest strengths is his ability to connect with athletes and build genuine rapport.
Every athlete is different.
- Some need accountability.
- Some need confidence.
- Some need to overcome fear.
- Some need to learn how to handle pressure.
- Others have tremendous physical ability but have never learned how to consistently access it.
Coach Gunn takes the time to understand the athlete behind the athlete.
By creating an environment where athletes can be honest about what is happening inside their minds, he can uncover issues that traditional athletic training often overlooks.
The goal isn’t simply to help athletes think differently. It’s to help them perform differently. And ultimately, to help them become a different competitor when the pressure is at its highest.
A Recent Example
Myles McLaughlin
One of Coach Gunn's most recent success stories is his work with running back Myles McLaughlin.
Through their work together, Coach Gunn helped Myles identify mental barriers and limiting beliefs that were interfering with his ability to reach his full potential.
In 2025, Myles produced an extraordinary season, rushing for more than 4,000 yards and establishing himself among the most productive running backs in Indiana football history.
His transformation illustrates one of the core principles behind Mind Academy Sports:
Sometimes the biggest obstacle standing between an athlete and their potential isn't physical. It's mental.
When those barriers are identified and eliminated, an athlete can begin performing at a level that previously seemed out of reach.
The Mind Is Trainable
One of the Most Important Components of Performance
Coach Gunn believes athletes shouldn’t spend years developing their speed, strength, skill, and athleticism while leaving one of the most important components of performance virtually untrained.
The mind is trainable.
Confidence can be developed.
Mental barriers can be identified.
Limiting beliefs can be challenged.
Pressure can be trained for.
And an athlete can learn how to access their ability when the moment demands it most.
Coach Gunn doesn’t believe athletes need to become someone else to perform at their best.
He believes they need to remove what is getting in the way of who they already have the potential to become.