Dr. Megan Buning is a sport psychology researcher, coach educator, and former Division I athlete whose work sits at the intersection of communication, motivation, and performance. Across her career she’s studied how coaches shape athlete experience — especially in softball — through expectations, tone, and the subtle cues that athletes interpret far more deeply than coaches often realize. Her research spans gendered communication, coach–athlete meaning‑making, and the ways video and reflective practice can help coaches see what they’re actually teaching. She’s presented internationally on coach communication, trained youth and collegiate coaches, and built programs that help coaches understand their impact with more clarity and intention.
Beyond the field, Dr. Buning has applied her work to contexts like umpire development, faculty coaching, virtual training environments, and performance under pressure. Whether she’s helping an umpire analyze decision‑making on video or guiding instructors through reflective practice, her throughline is consistent — people learn best when they understand how their communication lands. Her work bridges lived experience, scientific rigor, and practical coaching wisdom, making her a rare voice who can speak fluently about athletes, educators, and emerging technologies like AI that are reshaping how we see and understand performance.
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