Our Story, Your Potential

At Mental Mettle Coaching, we believe that true strength comes from within. Our journey began with personal adversity and evolved into a mission to empower others to overcome their challenges and unlock their full potential. Discover how our unique approach to mental performance coaching can help you transform setbacks into comebacks and achieve excellence in all areas of life.

COach Matt Thomann: Forging Mental Mettle Through Adversity

Matt Thomann is a highly regarded sports mental performance coach and life coach with over a decade of experience in public education as a teacher, coach, and administrator. His journey to becoming a life coach was shaped by a series of life-altering events in 2020, including a cancer diagnosis and an ischemic stroke while managing a school during the Covid-19 pandemic.

These challenges taught Matt the essential nature of a positive mindset in overcoming life's obstacles. After relearning to speak and read aloud, and benefiting from positive psychology techniques, Matt decided to pivot his career. He began life coach training just five months after his stroke, combining his newfound insights with his extensive background in education and athletics.

Today, Matt's purpose is to help individuals develop a positive mindset when dealing with life's inevitable setbacks and failures. He has quickly become known for his work with athletes of all levels, from middle school girls' rec basketball to Division 1 football. Using proven coaching techniques, Matt helps athletes and teams increase their mental toughness and focus on progress.

Matt's coaching services extend beyond athletics to include educators, business teams, and adults seeking personal growth. He has worked virtually with student-athletes in over 15 states, making mental performance coaching accessible regardless of location. His approach is particularly valuable in navigating the ever-changing worlds of athletics and education.

In addition to one-on-one and team coaching, Matt travels to speak to teams, businesses, and schools, sharing his "Live your 100" message. This personal philosophy helps others learn to use adversity to their advantage, reflecting Matt's own journey of transformation.

Matt's unique combination of personal experience, educational background, and professional training makes him a powerful advocate for mental toughness and positive mindset development. Whether working with athletes, educators, or professionals, Matt's goal is to help individuals forge their mental mettle and achieve excellence in all aspects of life.

Are you ready to forge your mettle?

Coach THomann's Qualifications

Matt Thomann's approach to mental performance coaching is grounded in a solid foundation of academic knowledge and professional certifications. His diverse qualifications span science, education, leadership, and specialized coaching, ensuring a well-rounded and informed perspective in helping clients forge their mental mettle.

Bachelor's Degree in Science

Millikin University 1998

Illinois State Board of Education Type 09 Teaching Certification

Eastern Illinois University 2008

Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership

Bradley University 2013

Lark’s Song Certified Coach Training

Lark’s Song Academy 2021

ICF Professional Certified Coach

"If you care about someone, and you got a little love in your heart, there ain't nothing you can't get through together."

Ted Lasso

The Mental Edge

"The Mental Edge" is your go-to resource for unlocking peak performance through mental resilience and strategic mindset training with stories containing valuable insights, practical tips, and expert advice tailored for athletes, coaches, and parents alike. Explore techniques to enhance focus, build confidence, and overcome adversity, empowering you to excel in sports and life.

Taking Fear Out of the Game: The Secret to Unlocking True Athlete Potential
Today’s most successful coaches realize that fear isn’t a sustainable motivator—it paralyzes players, limits growth, and stunts team chemistry. Championship coach Greg Tonagel, guest on the Mental Mettle Podcast, is a standout example of why taking fear out of sports completely changes the trajectory of athletes—and entire programs.
Unlocking True Confidence: How Mental Metal Coaching Helps Athletes Build Resilience That Lasts
In competitive sports, the difference between potential and actual performance often comes down to one thing: mental toughness. While athletes and teams pour hours into skill drills and strength training, true confidence and resilience are often left to chance. At Mental Metal Coaching, we believe this “third skill set” – your mindset – is the gamechanger that so many teams and athletes are missing.
Control the Controllables: The Key to Building Mental Toughness in Athletes
While scoreboard success grabs the headlines, the real secret to peak performance – and lifelong growth – lies in a deceptively simple idea: control the controllables.