Developing Mental Toughness in a Positive Way
Mental toughness is one of the most important qualities of a champion athlete. How does one develop mental toughness? Can a strength coach help an athlete or team become more mentally tough? Will the development of mental toughness in the weight room transfer to sport competition? Joey Batson & Ethan Reeve will present their unique ways of developing this mental toughness and how to transfer it to the sport. They will share their years of experience with all in attendance!
Joey Batson is in his 33rd year as a strength & conditioning coach at the college level and 22nd year as the director of football strength & conditioning at Clemson. He has served as a head strength & conditioning coach 29 of his 33 years of service.
Batson was named master strength & conditioning coach by the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa) in 2009. He was also named to the CSCCa board of directors in May 2016.
He has had a strong impact on the program since he became director in 1997. He has had much to do with the success of the football program, helping the Tigers to 20 bowl games, 12 top-25 finishes, top-15 finishes each of the last six years and the 2016 national title.
Not only does Batson bring professional experience to the position at Clemson, he brings experience as a football player at the college level. The Travelers Rest, S.C., native was a tight end at The Citadel in 1979 before transferring to Newberry, where he was a two-year letterman and co-captain as a senior.
Batson earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Newberry in 1985 and his master's degree in education from Clemson in 1988.
He is married to the former Susan Malone of Greenville, S.C. They have two sons, Michael and Ben. Michael was a punter at Clemson (2015-17) and Ben is a freshman quarterback on the 2018 Tiger team.
