Danielle Cormier, Ph.D., M.A., B.A.
Pronouns: she/her
Contact
ATS Assistant Teaching Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation - Academic Programs
- d.cormier@ualberta.ca
Overview
Area of Study / Keywords
Sport Psychology Coaching Grit Self-Compassion High Performance Sport
About
I am an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta, where I coordinate the Master of Coaching (MCoach) program. My research explores the psychological, social, and pedagogical factors that shape how athletes and coaches learn, perform, and sustain their engagement in sport. Using mixed methods, I investigate how individual differences influence athletes’ thoughts, emotions, and behaviours across time and context.
I have two intersecting areas of inquiry: (1) understanding and enhancing the psychological characteristics (e.g., grit, self-compassion, mental toughness) that contribute to high-performance athletes’ perceptions of performance and well-being, and (2) advancing equity in sport for self-identified girls and women by identifying the psychological and social mechanisms that support their positive experiences and holistic development.
Building on these foundations, my emerging work in coaching studies examines how coaches make sense of, enact, and communicate knowledge in diverse sport environments. This includes studying coaching epistemologies, decision-making, and the design of learning environments that support both athlete development and coach effectiveness.
I am passionate about fostering a lifelong love of sport and helping athletes and coaches flourish both within and beyond performance settings. In addition to my academic work, I serve as a mental performance consultant and coach for high-performance sport teams across the Canadian Prairies.
Announcements
As coordinator of the Master of Coaching (MCoach) program in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, I am currently accepting supervision inquiries exclusively from MCoach applicants.
Courses
KIN 245 - Introduction to the Profession of Coaching
Examines the principles of coaching as they relate to the development of the athlete, the role of the coach, and organization of sport in contemporary society. Designed to present basic coaching theory that is applicable to a variety of sport settings with the focus on the practice and the season. Note: Credit will only granted for one of KIN 245 or PEDS 245 or 345.
KSR 572A - Coaching Practicum
Students will be required to coach for a complete season as head coach or assistant coach with major responsibilities in High Performance program approved by the student's Coaching Mentor. The purpose of the practicum is to provide students with practical experience of running their own High Performance program for an entire duration of 1 annual cycle that will include 1 competitive season. Note: a minimum of 250 hours of outside-classroom time is required. Prerequisite: consent of the Faculty. Note: Credit will be granted for only one of KIN 572 or KSR 572 or PEDS 572.
KSR 572B - Coaching Practicum
Students will be required to coach for a complete season as head coach or assistant coach with major responsibilities in High Performance program approved by the student's Coaching Mentor. The purpose of the practicum is to provide students with practical experience of running their own High Performance program for an entire duration of 1 annual cycle that will include 1 competitive season. Note: a minimum of 250 hours of outside-classroom time is required. Prerequisite: consent of the Faculty. Note: Credit will be granted for only one of KIN 572 or KSR 572 or PEDS 572.
KSR 576 - Principles of Performance: Programming and Pedagogy
This course examines a range of knowledges, perspectives and practices relevant to effective programming and pedagogy across a variety of coaching contexts. Note: Credit will be granted for only one of KSR 576, KRLS 576 or PERLS 576.
KSR 900A - Directed Research Project
A significant piece of scholarly writing. This course used by course-based Master's students. Note: Students can complete only one project during their degree.
KSR 900B - Directed Research Project
A significant piece of scholarly writing. This course used by course-based Master's students. Note: Students can complete only one project during their degree.
RLS 100 - Life, Leisure, and the Pursuit of Happiness
This is a foundational, introductory course to recreation and leisure studies, with an emphasis on exploring leisure's contributions to happiness from a multi-disciplinary perspective. Various theories and evidence to support leisure's roles in the pursuit of happiness are covered, along with prominent subtopics within leisure studies. Students will be expected to apply the learned content to issues they face in their own leisure life and/or future professional life.
Featured Publications
Danielle L. Cormier, Helene Jørgensen, Leah J. Ferguson, Nancy C. Gyurcsik, Jennifer L. Briere, & Kent C. Kowalski
Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health . 2025 March; 10.1080/2159676X.2024.2432653
Danielle L. Cormier, Kent C. Kowalski, Leah J. Ferguson, Amber D. Mosewich, Tara-Leigh F. McHugh, Philipp Röthlin
International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2025 January; 10.1080/1750984X.2022.2161064
Danielle L. Cormier, Leah J. Ferguson, Nancy C. Gyurcsik, Jennifer L. Briere, John G. H. Dunn, Kent C. Kowalski
International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 2024 December; 10.1080/1750984X.2021.1934887
Danielle L. Cormier, Leah J. Ferguson, Nancy C. Gyurcsik, Jennifer L. Briere, Amber D. Mosewich, Kent C. Kowalski
Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2024 January; 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102540
Karissa L. Johnson, Danielle L. Cormier, Kent C. Kowalski, Amber D. Mosewich
Journal of Sport Rehabilitation. 2023 March; 10.1123/jsr.2022-0100
John G. H. Dunn, Danielle L. Cormier, Shintaro Kono, Janice Causgrove Dunn, James L. Rumbold
Journal of Sport Behavior. 2021 September; 44 (2)
Danielle L. Cormier, John G.H. Dunn, Janice Causgrove Dunn
Personality and Individual Differences. 2019 March; 10.1016/j.paid.2018.11.026
View additional publications