Susan Averna, PhD

05/23/2026

I first started coaching in a youth rec program at 14 years old. My first head coach position came 9 years later at a small private high school. Though I had great mentors and coaches, I had no business being the head (and sole) coach of a program at 23 years old, with minimal professional and personal development. Thirty years later, I am intentional about developing team culture and designing thoughtful practices and experiences that support skill development and the personal growth and well-being of my athletes. Check out my book FABRIC: Be the Coach and Build the Culture Every Athlete Needs which draws on my training in counseling and developmental psychology, neuroscience, and decades of teaching and coaching. I contrast a disastrous interaction as a first-time head coach with a similar experience as a veteran coach, handled much differently after years of experience and reflection. Available on Amazon.

04/30/2026

I recently wrapped up an advanced developmental psychology seminar on Adolescent Mental Health that I created and taught for the first time. These bright, insightful students dove deep into theory and research and we went beyond the common talking points and easy culprits that appear to explain the mental health crisis. The course took a developmental rather than clinical approach. Symptoms and behaviors that underlie mental health diagnoses were viewed as adaptations to the environment rather than pathologized. Mental health was understood as a function of multiple interacting contexts at the individual, relational, institutional, and cultural level, considering person-context reciprocity, timing, and plasticity rather than something static, a deficit, a personal failing, or something that needs to be fixed. This viewpoint changes the conversation around mental health while asking better questions about how to support optimal growth and development and knowing where, when, and how to intervene when necessary. What pleased me the most was that students released personal feelings of shame and blame. If they took nothing else away form the course, that will have been my biggest accomplishment.

04/16/2026

If Bill Belichick had said "30 minutes for the rest of your life" it would have increased the threat and raised anxiety - too much emphasis on the outcome. Instead, he reminded them, this is what we do, what we've done, now, next play. 👏https://www.facebook.com/reel/1987969938430894

03/28/2026

So appreciative of these kind words from a woman I deeply respect and admire. Her contribution to youth development through sport is unparalleled.

“As a former coach at the collegiate and high school levels and a high school athletic director, I’ve always believed that coaching is a profound privilege. You’re entrusted with shaping not only athletes’ performance but their confidence, resilience, and sense of belonging. That belief is exactly why Fabric by Dr. Susan Averna resonated so deeply with me. It captures the heart of what coaching can and should be: a relationship‑driven, science‑informed practice that honors the whole athlete.
Drawing on her thirty years as a coach, developmental psychologist, and counselor, Dr. Averna blends neuroscience and psychology to show how the brain and body respond to stress, learning, and connection. She organizes the book around the acronym FABRIC—Focus, Awareness, Belonging, Repair, Intentionality, and Curiosity/Compassion. Each chapter explores one of these elements, grounding it in research while offering practical exercises that coaches can immediately apply. The structure makes the book both accessible and actionable, giving coaches a clear framework for understanding the different elements that shape performance and then how to apply it.
What I enjoyed most was Dr. Averna’s emphasis on team culture and the coach’s role in shaping it. She highlights how the environment we create should be one built on trust, belonging, and psychological safety that directly influences how athletes show up and perform. Her discussion of culture isn’t abstract; it’s grounded in the daily interactions, habits, and relational cues that determine whether a team feels connected or fragmented. As someone who has led teams and overseen entire athletic programs, I found her insights both validating and deeply aligned with what I’ve seen in the field. She captures the truth that culture is not a byproduct of coaching—it is the coaching.
The practical tools Dr. Averna provides are one of the book’s greatest strengths. While much coaching literature stays theoretical, Fabric turns ideas into action. The exercises tied to each part of the FABRIC model give coaches clear ways to build trust, improve communication, and strengthen team culture. I also appreciate the intentional questions and reflection sections at the end of each chapter—they push coaches to examine their own habits and assumptions, which is essential for real growth.
Fabric ultimately argues that great coaching is intentional. It’s grounded in curiosity, compassion, and a commitment to understanding the athletes in front of you. Dr. Averna makes a compelling case that when coaches invest in relationships and embrace the science behind human behavior, they create environments where athletes can truly thrive.
For coaches at any level, this book offers a thoughtful, research‑backed roadmap for building stronger teams and supporting athletes as whole people. It’s a reminder of why coaching matters and why the privilege of doing it well is worth the time and effort.” - Betty Remigino-Knapp

01/09/2026

11/29/2025

It's the time of year where athletes express their appreciation for the people and programs to which they belong. As a coach, it's heartwarming to have my efforts and care acknowledged. I appreciate every sentiment but a recent favorite was "Thank you for creating a space where I feel safe." Psychological safety is a necessary component for well-being, development, and peak performance. Athletes bring a variety of histories, beliefs, and expectations and feeling safe looks different to different people. Learn about how we create and maintain a culture of belonging and psychological safety in my book FABRIC: Be the Coach and Build the Culture Every Athlete Needs.

Leadership in sport is a privilege that comes with responsibility and influence. Coaches well-versed in physiological and cognitive processes for growth, performance, and resilience provide a competitive edge for their athletes. Dr. Averna has distilled principles of development and neuroscience ...

06/15/2025

and check out episode #139 of featuring Dr. Susan Averna. It was great to talk with my good , Susan! Susan is a...

06/04/2025

Headlines fear monger over the adolescent mental health crisis. There's power in words. Are our kids in crisis? Many are suffering, for sure. Many are thriving. We lose nuance and the ability to change when we accept a narrative that disempowers us. I'm excited to explore the topic with some savvy 20-22 year old college students who came of age over the past decade, in this advanced seminar.

05/08/2025

Cindy and I talk about coach development for optimizing athlete development, well-being, and performance and for reducing coach burnout.

204. FABRIC: Be the Coach and Build the Culture Every Athlete Needs - with Dr. Averna. Cindy sits down with Susan Averna, a PhD developmental psychologist, college professor, and head cheer coach at Trinity College. For 30 years she has taught, counseled, mentored, and coached teens and young adults...

04/02/2025

Confidence and competence are built through doing. Our kids have lost the opportunity to practice and learn many physical and social skills through no fault of their own. We can thoughtfully and intentionally create the experiences necessary for these capacities to develop.