UW‑Madison athletes get meditation training
What happened
The University of Wisconsin–Madison has begun structured meditation training for athletes, pitching it as 'strength and conditioning for the mind' to improve focus and resilience alongside physical prep. It’s a notable example of mental training entering high-performance sports programs. (wpr.org)
Why it matters
Chad McGehee joined Wisconsin Athletics as Director of Meditation Training in March 2020 and is cited by the athletic department as the first person to hold that title in a major college sports program. (uwbadgers.com) McGehee is an honorary affiliate and former collaborator with UW–Madison’s Center for Healthy Minds, where he worked with researchers on studies of contemplative practices across populations. (centerhealthyminds.org) A March 20, 2026 WPR profile says McGehee is working this semester directly with the men’s hockey team as they prepare for the NCAA tournament later in March 2026. (wpr.org) WPR quotes McGehee saying he relies on peer‑reviewed research to train specific mental skills—attention stability and routines for high‑pressure moments—and describes exercises such as priming attention on bodily sensations before a pre‑shot sequence. (wpr.org) UW Athletics listings state McGehee oversees meditation trainings, collaborations and research for multiple teams and provides training for staff, coaches and individual student‑athletes. (uwbadgers.com)
Key numbers
- (wpr.org) Chad McGehee joined Wisconsin Athletics as Director of Meditation Training in March 2020 and is cited by the athletic department as the first person to hold that title in a major college sports program.
- (centerhealthyminds.org) A March 20, 2026 WPR profile says McGehee is working this semester directly with the men’s hockey team as they prepare for the NCAA tournament later in March 2026.
Quick answers
What happened in UW‑Madison athletes get meditation training?
The University of Wisconsin–Madison has begun structured meditation training for athletes, pitching it as 'strength and conditioning for the mind' to improve focus and resilience alongside physical prep. It’s a notable example of mental training entering high-performance sports programs. (wpr.org)
Why does UW‑Madison athletes get meditation training matter?
Chad McGehee joined Wisconsin Athletics as Director of Meditation Training in March 2020 and is cited by the athletic department as the first person to hold that title in a major college sports program. (uwbadgers.com) McGehee is an honorary affiliate and former collaborator with UW–Madison’s Center for Healthy Minds, where he worked with researchers on studies of contemplative practices across populations. (centerhealthyminds.org) A March 20, 2026 WPR profile says McGehee is working this semester directly with the men’s hockey team as they prepare for the NCAA tournament later in March 2026. (wpr.org) WPR quotes McGehee saying he relies on peer‑reviewed research to train specific mental skills—attention stability and routines for high‑pressure moments—and describes exercises such as priming attention on bodily sensations before a pre‑shot sequence. (wpr.org) UW Athletics listings state McGehee oversees meditation trainings, collaborations and research for multiple teams and provides training for staff, coaches and individual student‑athletes. (uwbadgers.com)
