Hunter VanMeter

Bio

Hunter VanMeter is a current master's student at the University of Tennessee, where he studies sport psychology and motor behavior. At UTK, he serves as a graduate teaching assistant working in the Vol Study Center, where he helps oversee and train student workers, plans and executes various programming, and co-advises the Tri-Alpha Honor Society for first-generation students. Before arriving in Tennessee, VanMeter obtained his Bachelor of Science in sport and recreation management from James Madison University in 2022 and then spent two seasons with the Washington Nationals working in the front office and on the grounds crew.

VanMeter has a diverse background in the field of sports, having played Division III college football at Shepherd University, coached high school football and youth hockey, and worked for multiple professional teams in the Washington, D.C., area. He currently serves as a grounds crew associate with the Knoxville Smokies as well as a youth hockey development associate for the Washington Capitals, in addition to his studies and work with Roane State Community College Men's Golf.

His love for sports began at a young age with baseball and hockey before starting football in middle school. VanMeter always noticed the mental side of sports during his playing career but never knew how to train it until learning about sport psychology at JMU. He is working toward obtaining his Certified Mental Performance Consultant certification from the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and aspires to work in professional or collegiate athletics following his time at UTK.

VanMeter loves being able to give back to sports by mentoring and coaching athletes, and now, teaching them mental performance tools to help elevate their game. A lifelong athlete, he still enjoys playing hockey and disc golf recreationally and is just beginning to play golf.