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Passion Meets Performance
At COACH WELL, we connect individuals, athletes, and coaches with the expertise and resources needed to engage in adaptive sport and elevate their performance. Our collaborative approach ensures tailored solutions to meet the unique challenges of the adaptive sports community.
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We aim to create pathways for sustainable change to ensure that our clients - who range from future athletes that are at the beginning of the development pathway to national organizations supporting Paralympians - receive coach-driven and athlete-centered support and solutions.
Our Unique Approach
COACH WELL is committed to addressing the needs of athletes and coaches by functioning as a multidisciplinary service hub. Focused on the adaptive sports and Paralympic community, we identify challenges and develop innovative solutions that enhance sports performance. We aim to foster an inclusive environment that is primarily driven by client need: through continuous dialogue with coaches and athletes, we ensure that our work is relevant, practical, and transformative.
Because there are many factors that influence adaptive sport performance, we bring together biomechanists, clinicians, engineers, sport experts, and other relevant disciplines to advance coaching and athlete development. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that we are able to appropriately develop and test innovative technologies, adaptive equipment, and/or personalized assessment protocols using evidence-based practices. Through this process, we aim to remove barriers to sport and recreation, improve health and well-being, and translate our findings into real-world clinical and community impact.
Meet the Team
Founding Partner
Dr. Jill McNitt-Gray
PhD, FASB, FISB, FNAK
Jill L. McNitt-Gray, Ph.D. FASB FISB FNAK is a Gabilan Distinguished Professor of Science and Engineering in the Departments of Biological Sciences and Biomedical Engineering and the Lloyd Armstrong Jr. Chair in Science at the University of Southern California (USC). She is the Director of the USC Biomechanics Research Laboratory and is a Fellow of the American Society of Biomechanics (ASB), International Society of Biomechanics (ISB), and the National Academy of Kinesiology. Dr. McNitt-Gray’s interdisciplinary research focuses on the neuromuscular control and dynamics of movement. Her team uses both experimental and dynamic modeling approaches to test research hypotheses specific to control priorities during well-practiced, goal-directed tasks. She is a Co-PI of the NSF Integrative Movement Sciences Institute and a Co-Founder of Rancho Research Institute Coach WELL Program. Dr. McNitt-Gray has also led the translation of coach-driven, athlete-centered research into the practice for National Governing Bodies of Sport and the initiation of outreach programs in STEAM and Sport.
Founding Partner
Dr. Jeffery Rankin
MSE, PhD
Jeff Rankin, MSE, PhD is the Director of the World-Renowned Pathokinesiology Laboratory and Director of the Rehabilitation Engineering Program at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center (Rancho) in Downey, CA, USA. A mechanical engineer and biomechanist by training, Dr. Rankin's primary area of research focuses on creating practical solutions to improve rehabilitation outcomes and community living for those with neurological and other disorders that affect movement. As part of his research program, he is the Co-Director and Research Director of the Federally designated Southern California Spinal Cord Injury Model System (website). Through his clinical support role at Rancho, Dr. Rankin has recognized the need to improve access to and engagement in adaptive recreation and sport due its health and psychosocial benefits. He is particularly interested in understanding the influence that equipment and assistive technologies have on sport performance, using his experience using musculoskeletal modeling, computer simulations, wearable sensors, and other emerging technologies to address the needs of the adaptive sport community.
Founding Partner
Dr. Jennifer Gruenhagen
PT, PhD
"Dr. Jen" Gruenhagen is a licensed physical therapist who became interested in academics and research. Dr. Gruenhagen has a long history of service and remains active in leadership for adaptive sports with organizations including Angel City Sports, Move United Competition Team, and the American Physical Therapy Association's (APTA) AASPT Adaptive Sports Special Interest Group.
Founding Partner
Dr. Kathryn Lucas
PT, DPT, PhD
Kathryn (Katie) Lucas, PT, DPT, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in Creighton University's Physical Therapy Department in Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Lucas is a board-certified clinical specialist in both orthopedic and sports physical therapy through the American Physical Therapy Association and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. She is a United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee National Medical Classifier for track and field and an International Classifier for World Para Athletics. She is an item writer and is on the Sports Specialty Panel as the Assistant Item Review Coordinator for the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. Dr. Lucas graduated from Bellarmine University's psychology and health sciences programs and received her doctorate in physical therapy in 2009. She was a collegiate runner (track and field, cross country) and received All-District, All-American, and Academic All-American honors. After completing the Sports Physical Therapy Residency program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in 2013, Dr. Lucas earned her PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences with a focus in biomechanics from the University of Kentucky. She completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Louisville's Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center in 2023. Dr. Lucas's research is in the promotion of neurorecovery after an injury and sport-specific training for athletes with disabilities. Her clinical expertise is in pediatric sports, adaptive sports, and return to sport criteria.
Dr. Shannon Cross
EdD
Dr. Shannon Cross has over 20 years of coaching experience and 10 years of higher education instruction. She holds a joint faculty appointment at University of Southern California in the Physical Education & Mind Body Health Department and in Human Biology. Her courses emphasize lifelong physical activity, accommodating motor skill learners with differing abilities, and applying content to real-world applications including inclusive coaching practices, preparing future professionals for impactful work in the field. She also is a member of the Biomechanics Research Laboratory at USC. Dr. Cross graduated from USC with a BS in Kinesiology while also competing for the Women’s Soccer Team as a student-athlete. She then went on to complete her MS in Kinesiology with an Emphasis in Sport & Exercise Psychology from Cal State Long Beach, before completing her Educational Doctorate in Kinesiology from the University of North Carolina Greensboro.
Dr. Hannah Houde
PhD, MEd
Hannah R. Houde, PhD, MEd, is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch, where her work focuses on improving shoulder health and athlete longevity for adaptive athletes through a blend of clinical and applied biomechanics. Her research spans propulsion mechanics in wheelchair basketball, daily arm use in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury, and the translation of detailed kinematic data into evidence-based strategies for performance enhancement and injury prevention. Dr. Houde’s career goal is to use biomechanics to clarify the mechanisms of performance and injury, streamline how sport biomechanics are communicated to athletes, coaches, and other disciplines, and apply these insights to enable long-term athletic participation for adaptive athletes.
Services
We offer a range of services tailored to the specific needs of athletes and coaches in the adaptive sports sector. Our goal is to provide effective solutions that lead to improved performance and personal development.
Consultation
Expert Insights
Our consultation services connect clients with experienced professionals who provide personalized guidance, helping to navigate the complexities of sports performance enhancement.
Workshops
Skill Building
We conduct workshops focused on various aspects of sports training and athlete development. These interactive sessions empower participants with new techniques and insights to maximize their potential.
Resource Hub
Vast Network
Our resource hub is a comprehensive platform that offers access to specialized resources, further enhancing the support available for athletes and coaches in achieving their goals.
Why Choose Us?
COACH WELL stands out due to its specialized focus on adaptive sports, ensuring that all services and solutions are crafted with the unique needs of athletes and coaches in mind.
Tailored Support
Personalized Guidance
Expert Team
Experienced Professionals
We understand that each athlete is unique. Our tailored support structures ensure that everyone receives attention suited to their individual needs, facilitating effective growth and performance improvement.
Our team consists of professionals with extensive backgrounds in coaching, sports science, and adaptive sports. Their expertise provides a vast resource network to support all clients.
Community Focus
Inclusive Environment
Proven Results
Demonstrated Success
We prioritize an inclusive environment that nurtures growth and collaboration, ensuring all voices in the adaptive sports community contribute to a collective mission.
Our initiatives have led to significant performance improvements for athletes and coaches alike, building a track record of success rooted in evidence-based practices.