Keeping Sport in Perspective
For Dr. Monica Hill, Associate Professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, sport has always been more than a game. A former collegiate basketball and track athlete, Hill has spent her career in both professional and academic spheres exploring the powerful impact sport can have on individuals, families, and communities. Most recently, she co-authored Practical Wisdom for Families with Athletes: Winning is Not the Ultimate Goal (PWFA)—a book born from her desire to help student-athletes and their families navigate the increasingly complex culture of competitive sports.
Hill’s interest in athlete identity and the dynamics that surround youth sport development is both personal and scholarly. She and her co-author, Dr. David Fraze—James A. “Buddy” Davidson Charitable Foundation Youth and Family Ministry Endowed Chair in the Alfred and Patricia Smith College of Biblical Studies—first began discussing the idea for the book after a new faculty orientation session. Their conversation quickly evolved from personal stories about life in sport to shared concerns about the direction youth athletics is heading—and how many families are unsure how to guide their athletes through it. Those early conversations eventually shaped what became the third volume in the Practical Wisdom series, offering a framework for families, coaches, and mentors to reclaim balance and purpose in the athletic experience.
Drawing from years of experience as athletes, advisors, mentors, researchers, and mental performance coaches, Hill and Fraze use real-world sport stories to unpack the often-unspoken challenges of competitive athletics. The book addresses issues such as athletic identity, burnout, coaching dynamics, failure, and fun through a thoughtful “Why, How, Now” format. These topics are not just surface-level discussions, but deep explorations of the cultural and psychological shifts occurring within youth sport environments.
Many of the book’s themes are rooted in Hill’s academic work. Several years ago, she presented a paper at the Christian Scholars Conference that explored the complex role sport plays in shaping identity. That presentation laid the foundation for her doctoral dissertation, Moderator Effects of Competitive Levels on Athletic Identity and Conduct in Sport. Fraze later served as her content expert for that work, and it became a foundational element of PWFA. As Hill’s dissertation chair remarked after her defense, “Monica, you need to write a book.” A year later, she did.
Hill’s academic journey reflects a deep commitment to the integration of theory and practice. She earned her Ph.D. in Performance Psychology from Grand Canyon University, where she now also teaches doctoral-level courses. She holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Master’s degree in Exercise and Sport Sciences. Hill also earned dual bachelor's degrees in psychology and sociology from Texas Tech University.
Before entering higher education, Hill developed an extensive professional portfolio in program development, educational support services, and academic mentoring. During her time living in California, she designed, implemented, and managed for-profit and federally funded non-profit K-12 supplemental learning programs. Upon returning to Texas, she served as Unit Coordinator of Academic Success for Texas Tech University's Lauro Cavazos and Ophelia Powell-Malone Mentoring Program (Mentor Tech), where she focused on the recruitment and retention of faculty, staff, and graduate student mentors. She also taught a Programs for Academic Development and Retention Strategies course for academically underperforming students.
Later, Hill took on a leadership role as Chief Operating Officer and Grant Accountant for the Afterschool Centers on Education (ACE) programs through Communities in Schools of the South Plains, overseeing 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants funded under the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Hill joined the Lubbock Christian University Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences in 2015 as an adjunct professor and transitioned into a full-time faculty role in 2017. She now serves as an Associate Professor and as the Coordinator for the Master of Science in Human Performance program. In these roles, she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Sport and Performance Psychology, Sport in Society, Management of Sport, Research Methods and Design in Human Performance, Statistical Analysis, and Applied Professional Experience. She also continues to serve as an external evaluator for federally funded programs and works as a Mental Performance Psychologist for competitive athletes and business professionals.
Throughout PWFA, Hill’s expertise in performance psychology and her research-driven approach are evident. She blends theory with practical insight, integrating perspectives from coaches, athletes, and parents in the book’s “In Their Own Words” section. The goal is not just to critique the current state of sport but to offer actionable strategies for keeping athletes at the center—where they belong.
As an educator, Hill brings this same intentionality to her classroom, where she mentors students preparing for careers in coaching, sport management, and performance psychology. Her influence continues to extend beyond the university setting, contributing to the broader conversation on how sport can remain a space for personal growth and positive development.
For Hill, sport is a vital space for human development—not simply a platform for winning. Practical Wisdom for Families with Athletes reflects her commitment to helping families reclaim the joy, purpose, and personal growth that should accompany the athletic journey. In a culture where the pressures of elite competition often overshadow the intrinsic value of sport, Hill offers a much-needed reminder: sport, at its best, should be about learning, growing, and simply enjoying the game.