Scholarly Projects

Check out the projects we currently have going on. If there is one you would be interested in working on, or if you have a related question that you are interested in, let’s chat about if that’s something we can help you answer!

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People discussing research posters at a Tarleton State University event.
Four people standing in front of research posters at a Tarleton State University event.
Two people stand beside a research poster and a USCCE banner.

Literature Review Phase

PE District Coordinators

Exploring the role of the PE District Coordinator from a Coach Developer perspective

Coaching Journal Creation

Creation of an applied peer-reviewed scholarly journal for coaching.

Planning Phase

Coach Developer Program Evaluation Interviews

Interviewing coach developers after implementing a program.

National Coaches’ Day

Creating a week-long program for coach education and development for students and appreciation for internship mentors.

Principles of Coaching Modules

Creating online principles of coaching modules for youth sport coaches.

Data Collection Phase

Coaching Efficacy Evolution in Novice Coaches

Tracking introduction to coaching students coaching efficacy levels over the course of the semester.

Genealogy of Coaching Researchers

Data mining academic tree relationships for sport coaching researchers.

National Sport Census

Identifying the sport organizations available in the United States

Data Analysis Phase

Novice Coach Experiences

Interviewed Texas teacher-coaches after their first year coaching regarding their experiences.

Media Portrayal of Coaches

Using TV series ‘Ted Lasso’ to explore impact of media’s portrayal of sport coaches

National Coaching Report

Identifying the qualifications for every high school head coach by state.

Erath Plays

Identifying the sport opportunities available in Erath county and the gaps in the marketplace for sport offerings.

Writing Results and Discussion Phase

Socioecological Model of Youth Sport Coach

Literature Review

Coaching in Sport Psychology Literature

Analysis of sport psychology journals for discussion of coaching

Professionalism in Coaching

Exploring coaches’ perspectives on coaching as a profession

Coaching in Sport Psychology Literature

Analysis of sport psychology journals for discussion of coaching

Submission Phase

Job Task Analysis of the Coach Developer

Identifying roles and responsibilities of the youth sport coach developer

Publications

Articles

Villalon, C., Atkinson, O., Walton, D. & Bowers, S. (2025). Applying sport education to high school esports programs. Strategies [In Press].

Villalon, C., Schwartz, H., & Dieffenbach, K. (2025). Youth sport day framework: Supporting sport sampling through university community collaboration. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. [In Press].

Villalon, C. (2025). Importance of supporting interscholastic coaches. Strategies [In Press].

Elms, R., Villalon, C., & Henry, R. (2025). Propelling kinesiology students: A professional development approach. Texas Journal for AHPERD. [In Press].

Book Chapter

Milistetd, M., Villalon, C., & Dieffenbach, K. (2025). Using social learning in a US online coaching graduate programme. In D. M. Culver, D. Vinson, and M. Milistetd (Eds.), Social Learning in Sport: Leading Communities of Practice and Social Learning Spaces for Coach Development. Routledge. [Accepted].

Booklets and Professional Manuals

Havens, M.*, Lopez, J.*, Vargas, M.*, Villalon, C., & Dieffenbach, K. (2024). Youth sport sampling day handbook. Sport IMPACT Lab.

Presentations

Refereed International Presentations

Swartz, H., Villalon, C., & Dieffenbach, K. (2025, November). Enhancing youth sport sampling through developing competent volunteer coaches [Session presentation]. International Council on Coaching Excellence’s 15th Global Sport Coach Conference, Athens, Greece. [Accepted].

Villalon, C., Altiner, B., Atkinson, O., and Ward, M.* (2025, November). Network analysis of coaching science researchers [Session presentation]. International Council on Coaching Excellence’s 15th Global Sport Coach Conference, Athens, Greece. [Accepted].

Villalon, C., Ward, M.*, Brown, A.*, Atkinson, O. (2025, November). Impact of ‘Ted Lasso’ on perceptions of effective coaching [Session presentation]. International Council on Coaching Excellence’s 15th Global Sport Coach Conference, Athens, Greece. [Accepted].

Villalon, C., Ward, M.*, Prewitt, S., Havens, M.*, & Lopez, J.* (2025, November). Introduction to coaching program for high school students [Session presentation]. International Council on Coaching Excellence’s 15th Global Sport Coach Conference, Athens, Greece. [Accepted

Brown, A.*, Ward, M.*, & Villalon, C. (2025, October). Examining stress in southern United States NCAA Division I graduate assistant coaches [Poster presentation]. Association for Applied Sport Psychology Conference, Montreal, Canada. [Accepted].

Ford, K. & Villalon, C. (2025, October). Expanding mental performance services to collegiate sport clubs: A scalable model for early career practitioners [Session presentation]. Association for Applied Sport Psychology Conference, Montreal, Canada. [Accepted].

Villalon, C., Altiner, B., Atkinson, O., & Ward, M.* (2025, June). Updated genealogy of coaching research [Poster presentation]. North American Coach Development Summit, Oklahoma City, OK, United States.

Ward, M.* & Villalon, C. (2024, October). Relationship between memory characteristics and concussion history in athletes [Poster presentation]. Association for Applied Sport Psychology Conference, Las Vegas, NV, United States.

Villalon, C. & Agor, C.* (2024, June). Are less experienced coaches more confident? Presentation at North American Coach Development Summit, Columbus, OH.

Villalon, C., Atkinson, O., Ward, M.*, & Agor, C.* (2024, June). Where is the coaching research coming from? – Genealogy of Coaching Research. Poster Presentation at North American Coach Development Summit, Columbus, OH.

Atkinson, O., Villalon, C., Bates, S., Bowers, L., & Bobeck, N. (2024, June). Using interdisciplinary teaching practices in coach education. Panelist at North American Coach Development Summit, Columbus, OH.

Villalon, C., Dieffenbach, K., & Thompson, M. (2023, November). Coach developer responsibilities in US youth soccer. Presentation at International Council on Coaching Excellence’s 14th Global Sport Coach Conference, Singapore.

Villalon, C., Dieffenbach, K., & McGahey, P. (2023, November). Virtual CoP in online master’s coaching degree. Presentation at International Council on Coaching Excellence’s 14th Global Sport Coach Conference, Singapore.

Sheehy, T., Villalon, C., & Dieffenbach, K. (2023, October). Considering the coach: An analysis of coach focused literature published within sport psychology journals. Presentation at the Association of Applied Sport Psychology. Orlando, FL.

Villalon, C. & Dieffenbach, K. (2023, June). Roles and responsibilities of a youth sport coach developer in a youth soccer setting in the United States. Presentation at the North American Coach Development Summit, Birmingham, AL.

Refereed National Presentations

Elms, R. & Villalon, C. (2025, January). PROPELing kinesiology students: A professional development approach [Session presentation]. National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education, San Juan, PR, United States.

Villalon, C., Dieffenbach, K., & McGahey, P. (2023, January). Incorporating communities of practice into online graduate internship experiences. Presentation at the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education, New Orleans, LA.

Refereed State Presentations

Villalon, C., Bowers, S., Walton, D., & Atkinson, O. (2024, December). Recommending the sport education model for high school esport programs [Conference presentation]. Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Annual Convention, Galveston, TX, United States.

Villalon, C., Bowers, S., Elms, R., McKay, A., Agor, C.*, Fussell, J.*, Gladson, K.*, & Ward, M.* (2024, December). Baseball education day: Applied learning experience collaboration [Conference presentation]. Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Annual Convention, Galveston, TX, United States.

Agor, C.* & Villalon, C. (2023, November). High school head coaches’ coaching efficacy by degree area. Poster session presented at the Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Fort Worth, TX.

Refereed Local Presentations

Brown, A.* & Villalon, C. (2025, March). Proposal: Relationship between romantic relationship stress and athlete performance [Poster presentation]. Division of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development (RIED) Research Symposium, Stephenville, TX, United States.

Ward, M.*, Lopez, J.*, & Villalon, C. (2025, March). Greater Erath County ‘state of play’: Available opportunities [Poster presentation]. Division of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development (RIED) Research Symposium, Stephenville, TX, United States.

Havens, M.*, Vargas, M.*, & Villalon, C. (2025, March). Proposal: Impact of coach training on volunteer youth coaches coaching efficacy [Poster presentation]. Division of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development (RIED) Research Symposium, Stephenville, TX, United States.

Ward, M.*, Agor, C.*, & Villalon, C. (2024, March). Proposal: Impact of ‘Ted Lasso’ on perceptions of effective coaching. Poster session presented at the PROPEL Professional Development Research Symposium, Stephenville, TX.

Agor, C.* & Villalon, C. (2024, March). Learners longitudinal coaching efficacy scores in introductory coaching course. Poster session presented at the PROPEL Professional Development Research Symposium, Stephenville, TX.

Agor, C.* & Villalon, C. (2024, February). Erath County ‘state of play’: Available opportunities. Poster session presented at the Division of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development (RIED) Research Symposium, Stephenville, TX.

Lacey, P.*, Agor, C.*, Reagan, B.*, & Villalon, C. (2024, February). Relationship between Esports performance and wellness factors. Poster session presented at the Division of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development (RIED) Research Symposium, Stephenville, TX.

Invited International Presentations

Bowers, L., Villalon, C., Faucett, A., Hammond, L., & Dieffenbach, K. (2023, June). The challenges of evolving sport coach education in academic programs. Panelist at the North American Coach Development Summit, Birmingham, AL.

Invited Local Presentations

Villalon, C., & Ford, K. (2025, April). KINE 5158 – Applied Sport Psychology [Guest speaker]. University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States.

Villalon, C. (2025, February 28). Research agenda in coach education and development [Guest speaker]. Student Research Organization, Stephenville, TX, United States.

Villalon, C. (2025, February 3). Sport coaching and Sport IMPACT Lab [Guest speaker]. HLSC 1110 Exploring Careers and Pathways in Health Science, Stephenville, TX, United States

Villalon, C., Ward, M.*, and Vargas, M.* (2024, October 7). Sport coaching and Sport IMPACT Lab [Guest speaker]. HLSC 1110 Exploring Careers and Pathways in Health Science, Stephenville, TX, United States.

Villalon, C., Ward, M.*, Havens, M.*, & Barrera-Curiel, A.(2024, August 19). Youth soccer coach development session [Workshop]. Hood County YMCA, Granbury, TX, United States.

Villalon, C. (2023, October 25). Sport IMPACT Lab [Guest speaker]. First Year Seminar, Stephenville, TX, United States.

Villalon, C. (2023, October 23). Sport management and coaching careers [Guest speaker]. First Year Seminar, Stephenville, TX, United States.

McKay, A., Johnson, A., Villalon, C., Baldwin, J., Mackey-Underwood, N.* (2023, June). TRIO Workshop. A workshop presented to TRIO Program Students in Summer Wellness Workshop elective course, Stephenville, TX.

Roberts, E., Villalon, C., & Henry, R. (2023, May). Santo ISD Career Day (Intermediate). Guest speaker presented at Santo ISD Career Day, Santo, TX.

Roberts, E., Villalon, C., & Henry, R. (2023, May). Santo ISD Career Day (Novice). Guest speaker presented at Santo ISD Career Day, Santo, TX.

Grants

Funded

$14,750 – Elms, R., Simpson, S., & Villalon, C. (2022). PROPEL Professional Development Event. Tarleton State University President’s Circle. [Submitted].

$19,115 – Villalon, C., Havens, M.* & Brilanti, I.* (2025). Novice Scholastic Coach Experiences. President’s Excellence in Research Scholars (PERS), Division of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development (RIED) at Tarleton State University.

$15,000 – Villalon, C. (2025). Tarleton Coaching Academy. Tarleton Forward Fund.

$1,500 – Villalon, C. (2024). Applied Learning Experience Funding – Tarleton Athletics Education Day. Tarleton State University Center for Educational Excellence.

$1,553 – Villalon, C. & Agor, C.* (2023). Provost’s Student Research and Creative Activities Travel Grant – Fall 2023. Tarleton State University Provost’s Office.

$2,000 – Villalon, C. (2023). Affordable Course Redesign (OER) Internal Grant – KINE 2360. President’s Fund for Excellence and THECB Student Success Acceleration Program Implement.

$10,250 – Peak, K., Elms, R., Henry, R., Nelson, S., Roberts, E., Simpson, S., Tallach, T., & Villalon, C. (2023). Affordable Course Redesign (OER) Internal Grant – Kinesiology. President’s Fund for Excellence and THECB Student Success Acceleration Program Implement.

$10,000 – Elms, R., Henry, R., & Villalon, C. (2022). PROPEL Professional Development Event. Tarleton State University President’s Circle.

Tarleton State University Sport IMPACT Lab logo.