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Dr. Denise Wood's Personal Mentors

If you want to be the best, learn from the best. Dr. Denise Wood's personal mentors inspired her athletic and career success. Their modeling and guidance contributed to her extensive sports training knowledge, innovative coaching techniques, and effective leadership style.

Olympic lifter Phil Grippaldi

Phil Grippaldi, world class Olympic lifter and legend in his sport, shared his extensive expertise with Denise as they trained with other top lifters in Belleville, NJ. The program regimens of Phil and former Soviet coach, Emile Press, further elevated Denise's own world class performances in track and field. These unique, effective training routines stemming from Eastern European roots spurred Denise's academic interest in the transfer of training to sports, the focus of her doctoral dissertation.

Olympic Weightlifting legend Phil Grippaldi

Terry Crawford, led the Lady Vols to their first ever National Championship. As assistant coach, Denise coached some of the top athletes in the country while learning Terry's winning techniques. Concurrently, Denise earned her master's and doctoral degress while also competing internationally--the supreme sport science lab experience!

UTK Coaches Andy Roberts, Denise Wood, and Terry Crawfor with Chantelle Desrosiers Gloria Ray, former Athletic Director, appointed Denise as the first Lady Vol Strength Coach. As a member of Gloria's cohesive team, Denise developed weight training programs for Terry, as well as all of the other outstanding Lady Vol coaches, including basketball legend Pat Summitt and Pat's former assistant and current WNBA coach, Nancy Darsch.

Andy Roberts, (hurdler Chantelle Desrosiers) Denise Wood, and Terry Crawford coached UTK's first national championship team

Denise's academic mentors, who served on her doctoral committee, are highly regarded leaders in their fields. Their combined expertise more clearly connected Denise's athletic experiences with applications of research in the sport sciences.

Dr. Ed Howley, highly respected exercise physiologist, has been President of the American College of Sports Medicine. Dr. Craig Wrisberg, well recognized authority in sport psychology, served as President of two national professional associations. Dr. Skyler Huck, also a well respected author and leader in his field, strongly influenced Denise's ability to apply research and statistics to the real world.

Mary Jo Marino, Founder and President of Marino Therapy Centers, hired Denise as Director of Fitness at her prominent physical therapy practice. Mary Jo's passion for her profession, entrepreneurial spirit, and team building skills reinforced the winning qualities of the outstanding athletic coaches, and added a new dimension to Denise's insights about human performance.

Denise has leveraged the leadership skills and qualities instilled by these personal mentors. In turn, she has inspired success for those she has mentored throughout her career.

For personal advising services, check out Sports Training Advice.

For tips and guidance on using research tools to improve performance in sports, academics, and the workplace, see Research Assessment Adviser.

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