Coaching Mental Toughness

I built this presentation for one reason — to help coaches, players, and everyday people understand what real mental toughness looks like. Too many folks think it’s about being loud, fearless, or dominating weaker opponents. That’s not toughness — that’s ego.

Mental toughness is simple: it’s doing what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, every time it needs to happen. It’s getting up when you’ve been knocked down. It’s showing up when nobody’s watching. It’s choosing to serve the team over yourself.

In this course, I walk through the same lessons I use with my players at Wartburg — lessons built from years in the game, both coaching and competing. We’ll break down what toughness is and what it isn’t, and I’ll share real principles that build discipline, focus, and accountability.