Chapter 1: The Warm-Up Introduction
MEET OUR FOUNDERS
Dr. Michael McElhenie,
Chief Psychologist
Greg Dunn,
Executive performance coach
Welcome to Exult Athletics’ first E-learning Series!
A groundbreaking program designed to help youth sports coaches and parents unlock the mental game that separates good athletes from great ones. In this 20-video series, accompanied by practical worksheets and science-based articles, you’ll learn how to guide young athletes in mastering their inner world—building confidence, focus, resilience, and emotional intelligence. When we teach kids to win from the inside out, they not only elevate their performance but also discover what it truly means to achieve beyond their wildest dreams.
dr. michael mcelhenie, PH.D
Founder & Chief Psychologist
As a sports psychologist and performance coach, I help athletes, coaches, and teams strengthen the mental and emotional foundations that drive peak performance. My work focuses on how the mind and body adapt under pressure—guiding both professional and amateur athletes to compete with greater clarity, composure, and confidence.
Drawing on behavioral neuroscience, psychology, embodied practices, and kinesiology, I teach practical methods that enhance focus, emotional regulation, and recovery. Whether on the ice, the field, or in daily life, my framework called Adaptive Intelligence (AIQ) translates the science of self-awareness into real-time performance. It builds on emotional intelligence to help people notice, adjust, and perform at their best when conditions change quickly or stress runs high.
Hockey was my first classroom. Growing up near the Canadian border, a defining experience at a Can-Am hockey camp in the late ’70s introduced me to breathwork and focus techniques from a pro goalie coach. Learning to regulate emotions in the crease became the foundation of everything I teach today—a personal practice of composure and recovery that continues to guide my work.
Beyond the world of sport, I’ve coached executive teams, corporate boards, and organizations across the globe, helping leaders bring the same mental skills that drive athletic excellence into the boardroom. The principles are universal: self-regulation, adaptability, and presence under pressure. Whether with athletes or executives, my mission is the same—to help people perform at their best when it matters most.
greg dunn
Founder, CEO, Executive Performance Coach
With a unique mix of experience as a high-level athlete, business executive, and executive leadership coach, my work centers on helping people optimize their performance through self-mastery. Driven by a deep commitment to human development, I’m passionate about guiding athletes, leaders, and teams to unlock their full potential and achieve meaningful success.
Growing up in Toronto, I played AAA, Junior, and Canadian Division 1 hockey, which gave me firsthand insight into the physical and emotional challenges that come with high-level sport. Like many dedicated athletes, I had to develop my emotional intelligence through trial, error, great coaching, and a lot of personal growth. But I didn’t stop there. My journey led me into the corporate world, entrepreneurship, leadership workshops, professional coaching certification, and ultimately a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership.
Over time, I’ve learned to blend emotional, cognitive, spiritual, and relational growth into personalized development plans that meet people where they are and help them carve out their own path to success. I believe that resilience is the foundation of real skill development—and that with the right support, anyone can reach their peak performance.