Lyn McDonald joined the University of the Incarnate Word women’s golf program as a volunteer assistant coach in the spring of 2020.
McDonald has served as a high school head golf coach for many years at various schools in San Antonio. He is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (Administered by the Association of Applied Sport Psychology) who has worked with individual athletes and teams in the greater San Antonio area since 2005. McDonald also works as a licensed specialist in school psychology and a licensed psychological associate - independent practice.
McDonald played football, basketball and competed in the pole vaulted for Churchill HS. He also played in the San Antonio all-star football game his senior year. From there, he went to Texas A&M where he studied psychology, focusing on sport psychology as a junior and senior. A member of the football team, McDonald excelled academically, eventually earning first team All-SWC Academic Team status. In addition, McDonald played four years on the Texas A&M handball team, helping guide them to a national championship.
After graduating from Texas A&M, McDonald completed graduate work at Michigan State University. He did research in the area of imagery and the useful role that it can play in sports. Eventually, he returned to San Antonio to accept a scholarship at Trinity University where he obtained a Master of Arts degree in the area of school psychology. He continued to follow his love of sports and wrote a thesis on the role of extracurricular sports participation, self-esteem, and academic achievement.
As a Certified Mental Performance Consultant, McDonald actively consults with multiple teams, clubs, coaches and parents. He works with the Texas Center for Sport Psychology (www.texascenterforsportpsychology.com) and Train the Mind (www.trainthemind.com).
McDonald stresses the importance of self-awareness and the development of poise under pressure. Like any physical skill, he will help UIW’s student-athletes understand that mental skills can be developed and improved over time with practice. He is a strong proponent of mindfulness and the benefits it can provide to student-athletes in their sport, as well as all other domains of their life.
McDonald earned a B.A. in psychology at Texas A&M in 1990 and an M.A. in school psychology at Trinity University in 1994.
Licenses and Certifications
Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, High School, Middle School, and Elementary School
Licensed Psychological Associate – Independent Practice, private practice
Certified Mental Performance Consultant
