Wade D. Gilbert, PhD, Biography

Dr. Wade Gilbert is an internationally renowned coaching consultant and sport scientist, as well as an award-winning professor in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, Fresno. His highly acclaimed book Coaching Better Every Season (2017, Human Kinetics) demonstrates the author’s special combination of steeped knowledge of studies in the field, keen understanding of the key principles resulting from that research, and adept communication and teaching skills to inform and benefit coaches, athletes, students and coach educators. Gilbert was also the lead author for the inaugural US Olympic and Paralympic Committee Quality Coaching Framework (2018).

Gilbert has been involved in sport and coaching his entire life. His experience as a competitive multi-sport athlete and coach across a variety of sports fuels his passion for helping coaches and sport organizations enhance the quality of coaching and coach development.

Gilbert holds degrees in physical education, human kinetics, and education and has taught and studied coaching and talent development at the University of Ottawa (Canada), UCLA, and Fresno State. He has contributed to over 100 publications, including dozens of scientific articles and book chapters, and was also the inaugural Editor-in-Chief for the International Sport Coaching Journal.

In addition to serving as a performance consultant to Fresno State Athletics and local high school coaches, Gilbert has advised coaches and sport organizations around the world spanning all competitive levels and in every sport imaginable. This list includes the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the Canadian Olympic Committee, US Ski & Snowboard, US Soccer, USA Football, Irish Rugby, International Ice Hockey Federation, Sport New Zealand, Singapore Sport, World Wrestling Entertainment, along with teams in Major League Soccer, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, and professional rugby in Australia and Ireland. Gilbert also will be attending the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games as the mental performance coach for the Canadian Women’s Softball Team.

Recent recognitions of his contributions to the field include the Kristen Marie Gould Endowed Lecture on Sport for Children and Youth at Michigan State University, the Cal Botterill Legacy Lecture at the University of Winnipeg, and the inaugural Fresno State Talks Discovery Lecture.

Gilbert regularly shares his coaching insights through 'Coach Doc' commentaries on the Human Kinetics Coach Education website in his advisory role with the company. He also works closely with youth and Fresno State coaches locally, often testing the merits of new coaching methods and practices.