OU to Celebrate 20th Anniversary of PROS
9/6/2024
The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its PROS department in 2024. PROS (Psychological Resources for OU Student-Athletes) will be recognized throughout the academic year, including on Owen Field at the Sept. 7 football game versus Houston and at other sporting events throughout the athletics year.
PROS was formed under the guidance of OU Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione in 2004. Castiglione hired Dr. Nicki Moore, a licensed psychologist for college athletes, to spearhead the department. Within two years, Moore hired the first PROS doctoral intern, Carmen Tebbe, who was promoted to assistant director in 2008. The department gained its second staff member in the same year, adding Bill Moore.
In 2019, PROS developed the Oklahoma Sport Psychology Consortium — the first independent doctoral internship training program within a college athletics department where interns spend four days per week training under psychological resources staff during their residency year.
OU further continued its dedication to mental health and athlete resources in 2023, growing the PROS staff to five full-time providers.
This year, OU launched a new internship program that provides the opportunity for doctoral interns to transition to full-time employees. The program allows interns to spend five days per week working and training under the PROS staff during their residency year.
The PROS department served 250 student-athletes in 2023-24, helping 42% of OU’s student-athlete population. PROS offered 640-plus hours of outreach and direct team support and was present for 826 hours of team observation.
In addition to its direct work with student-athletes, PROS hosted the first Big 12 Mental Health Providers Summit in 2023 and brought Hilinski's Hope to speak with OU’s football staff and student-athletes.
What is PROS?
Since 2004, OU Athletics has been an innovator and leader in student-athlete wellness through the development and growth of Psychological Resources for OU Student-Athletes (PROS) when Athletics Director Joe Castiglione hired Dr. Nicki Moore as the first full-time, in-house licensed psychologist to serve a college athletics department. Since that time, OU has built one of the largest staffs in the country across all NCAA divisions, including mental health providers as well as doctoral and master’s level trainees.
Each PROS staff member is focused on delivering the very best mental health, mental performance and psychological assessment services to OU student-athletes to support their efforts to achieve academic, athletic and personal success. Services offered by PROS include:
- Individual counseling
- Performance psychology consulting
- Psychoeducational testing for ADHD, learning disorders and other mental health disorders
- Team workshops
- Medication management and specialized care referrals
“PROS is a collection of highly trained, genuinely caring mental health and sport psychology professionals working in concert with coaches, health and performance professionals, administrators, staff, student affairs colleagues and faculty, to create a best-in-class environment that supports student-athlete thriving. PROS is the first and longest continuously operating program of its kind in the NCAA, and not only provides excellent service to OU student-athletes, but also and has trained and inspired countless psychologists serving athletes throughout the country. With core values of genuine care, collaboration and innovation at the heart of what PROS does, I hope and believe it can remain a relevant, thriving and core part of the OU student-athlete experience for years to come."
– The Meakem Smith Director of Athletics and Physical Education at Cornell, Nicki Moore
“PROS was the trailblazer for embedded mental health services for student-athletes."
– Cody Commander (former postdoctoral resident and staff member)
“PROS is a family of sport psychology professionals dedicated to helping athletes achieve their highest potential on and off the field. It is a safe space that recognizes unique skills and abilities and fosters an environment of growth for all."
– Marcia Edwards (former doctoral intern)
PROS Timeline
2004
Dr. Nicki Moore was hired as the first full-time in-house licensed psychologist in college athletics.
2006
PROS partners with the OU counseling center to create a rotation for doctoral interns to train under Dr. Moore. Carmen Tebbe started as the first PROS doctoral intern.
2008
Carmen Tebbe is promoted to assistant director and PROS adds Bill Moore to the staff.
2019
PROS developed the Oklahoma Sport Psychology Consortium — the first independent doctoral internship training program within a college athletics department where interns spend four days per week training under psychological resources staff during their residency year.
2023
OU further continued its dedication to mental health and athlete resources in 2023, growing the PROS staff to five full-time providers (JJ Swearingen, Dolores Christensen, Javan Jean-Noel, Zellessia Ejalonibu and Weston Durham).
2024
This year, OU launched a new internship program that provides the opportunity for doctoral interns to transition to full-time employees. The program allows interns to spend five days per week working and training under the PROS staff during their residency year.
What did it mean to you to be a part of the PROS department at Oklahoma?
“PROS always seemed like a professional 'family' where you can learn, have new experiences, ask questions and make mistakes while still being accepted and supported as a colleague. "
– Dave Botsford (former doctoral intern)
“I feel honored to have been part of such a strong training program and wonderful athletic community. I was able to learn from the best of the best and have made lifelong colleagues and friends."
– Hayley Hughes (former doctoral intern)
“I take such pride in having been a part of the PROS family. It was incredible to be so embraced and by student-athletes and staff during my time at PROS and know I was able to positively impact members of the community. Additionally, I believe PROS significantly impacted my personal and professional development and catapulted my career."
– Tess Palmateer (former doctoral intern)
How did being a part of PROS impact your career beyond Oklahoma?
“I was part of PROS at every level possible, from a pre-doctoral internship to director for five years. This experience across roles and responsibilities gave me an appreciation of how the department/system affects the success of the professional. It set me up to consider how can I be the best professional possible in a variety of settings and roles, including other athletics department and professional sports. "
– Carmen Tebbe Priebe (former doctoral intern, postdoctoral resident and staff member)
“PROS has been a leader in the Sport Psychology field now for two decades. Being a part of the OU family has opened many doors and connections for me that continue to help me achieve my career goals. When you go to professional conferences and meetings you will see PROS alumni in athletics departments, professional organizations and leaders in sports medicine departments across the country. To this day I still have my OU football helmet in my office and am very grateful and proud to be part of the PROS family."
– Brad Foltz (former staff member)
“Each day presents new challenges and opportunities for growth. From planning and organizing to collaborating with coaches and other staff members, every task is a chance to learn and contribute. The dynamic nature of this role keeps me engaged and motivated, and I am constantly inspired to push my limits and strive for continuous improvement."
– J.J.Swearingen (current PROS staff)
