Coach and Athlete Burnout - West Virginia University

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A project of this magnitude involves the work and guidance of others in order to be
successful. There are several people who played a significant role with this thesis,
without whom this endeavor would not have been possible.
I would like to thank my chair and advisor Dr. Andrew Ostrow for his guidance and
wisdom throughout this entire process. The time and effort you have given over the past
two years with this research has allowed me the opportunity to take an interest and idea
and turn it into a terrific learning experience. I am very grateful for the knowledge you
have imparted upon me and for the support you gave me, particularly when things were
not going as planned.
I would also like to thank Dr. Jack Watson for serving on my committee and providing
me with support and feedback with this project and life outside of the master’s thesis. I
feel very fortunate to have you as a resource and future colleague. I cannot thank you
enough for always making time for me when there is someone else in line waiting for
your guidance. You have set a positive example for us future professionals to follow.
I am also grateful to Dr. Roy Tunick for his help, feedback, and support with my thesis. I
am very appreciative to you for making the time to serve as one of my committee
members and for the helpful comments and guidance you have provided me while
completing this project.
I would also like to thank the personnel at the World Swimming Championships and
World Coaching Clinic for their willingness to allow me the opportunity to collect my
data at their venues. I would also like to acknowledge those collegiate swimmers and
swimming coaches who took the time to complete my inventories and for providing me
with such a crucial component to a project of this nature. Without your help, none of this
would have evolved to the point it is at today.
I would also like to thank my friends and colleagues in the Sport and Exercise
Psychology Program. It often takes the support and encouragement of folks who have
been in your shoes before to help you endure the ups and downs that come with a thesis.
In particular, I would like to thank Age for her constant support, kind words of
encouragement, and wisdom over the past year. I would also like to thank Liz for sharing
this experience with me. It has been a bumpy road for the both of us but we managed to
pick each other up during the process.
A very big thank you to Lindsey Blom and her family, the Grossmans, for providing me
with a place to stay while on the road collecting my data. Not having to worry about
housing accommodations made this project financially feasible for me to take on. I am
very grateful for your hospitality and generosity.
Finally, I would like to thank West Virginia University and the School of Physical
Education for the funding they provided me to help finance this project. I appreciate the
university and school’s financial support for graduate students taking on such endeavors.
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