Dr. John Coumbe-Lilley
Ph.D, LPC, ALMFT, CMPC, CSCS
Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
As the co-founder and CEO of Mind Over Moves, I bring a rare combination of clinical expertise, performance psychology leadership, real-world coaching experience, and business development that directly benefits every client we serve. My role is to ensure that every training program, session, resource, and partnership reflects the highest professional and scientific standards. I lead the integration of clinical insight, research-backed methods, and elite coaching design so chess players and coaches receive mental training that is practical, effective, and built for long-term competitive success.
Professional Background
With over twenty-five years of experience in applied sport psychology, I have helped athletes, teams, and high-pressure performers build confidence, manage anxiety, and thrive under pressure. My clinical practice provides me with a deep understanding of the mental barriers that chess players face, such as focus lapses, emotional volatility, perfectionism, and decision fatigue, and how to resolve them quickly and effectively.
At the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), I have trained and supervised hundreds of sport psychology practitioners, built evidence-based mental training systems, and led programs that translate complex psychological science into simple, actionable skill development.
I have also launched three businesses with successful exits and guided nine UIC alumni in launching successful performance and coaching businesses, providing me with insight into how people learn, how they succeed, and how to design programs that produce real, measurable results.