Chris DeSantis Coaching
The Blog

Notes on mindset, coaching, and the craft of sport.

Essays on Positive Psychology, talent development, and what it really takes to perform at your best.

Mindset

The Failure of Self-Esteem and Other Movements

I was raised in the hey-day of the self-esteem movement. Or at least it seemed like it. When I was young, I...

May 11, 2026 · 2 min read
Mindset

Rutgers Isn’t Unique

dark ages, mental health, leadership Last week, Rutgers coach Petra Martin resigned (not willingly, it seems) after swimmers came forward to say what they had...

May 11, 2026 · 3 min read
Mindset

The Archive: Mike Unger Knows The Real Victims

I'm on vacation this week. I am still following what is going on. But seeing as how I am spending most of...

May 7, 2026 · 4 min read
Mindset

A Peek Into The Future of “Safe” Sport

In 2011, there was a brief moment of detente between this writer and USA Swimming’s “efforts” to ensure a “Safe Sport”. Then...

May 5, 2026 · 6 min read
Tips

Your Goals are For You

If you’re a coach (or a manager, the coaches of the business world) let me ask you if the following scenario sounds...

August 7, 2025 · 4 min read
Mindset

What Most People Get Wrong About Body Image

On the left, the beginning of my journey. On the right, where I am now. As I write this blog, I feel...

July 25, 2025 · 7 min read
Mindset

Empathy vs Permissiveness

This is a part of a series on Positive Masculinity. For the other parts click on the following links Part 1 Part...

July 24, 2025 · 4 min read
Mindset

Swim Brief Bonus 7/16

I’ve been on a hot streak of podcasting recently. It’s been over a year since I changed the podcast format and committed...

July 16, 2025 · 4 min read
Mindset

Practical Advice for Husbands

I’ve often joked that at some point in my career I’m going to host a men’s seminar. In this joke scenario, I...

July 10, 2025 · 7 min read
Mindset

What Most People Get Wrong About Body Image

On the left, the beginning of my journey. On the right, where I am now. As I write this blog, I feel...

July 1, 2025 · 7 min read
Mindset

Empathy and Victimhood Contests

I’ve written extensively in this space about the ways in which empathy gets twisted and misused. That misuse often leads people to...

June 25, 2025 · 4 min read