Mark Kovacs

Vice President, Health & Performance , Canyon Ranch

Dr. Kovacs has an extensive background in training, researching, and educating athletes and executives by using the practical application of cutting-edge, evidence-based scientific information. This unique skillset makes him one of the foremost worldwide experts on the intersection of sports science, health, training, performance and technology. Before joining Canyon Ranch, he was the Senior Director of Sport Science & Health with the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA), overseeing the team's sports science, health, medical, training, and performance. His business background includes time as a Fortune 50 Research and Development executive with Pepsico. He was also the Director of the Gatorade Sport Science Institute. He led a team of individuals focused on research, innovation, and education in areas focused on nutrition, hydration, sleep, recovery, and human performance. This included the technology task force as well as major building projects which incorporated health, wellness, nutrition, and performance departments. He developed and taught one of the first graduate classes on Sport Technology in the United States and taught graduate classes on sports science, human performance, and technology for more than a decade. Early in his career, he directed the Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning, and Coaching Education departments for the United States Tennis Association. He was instrumental in creating a systematic approach to the training and treatment of tennis athletes throughout the U.S. He is also the co-founder of the International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA), which is the worldwide leader in tennis-specific performance enhancement and injury prevention education and certification. Mark grew up in Melbourne, Australia, playing national and international level junior tennis. He was a Top 5 Australian junior and competed at the Australian and U.S. Open junior championships. He was an All-American and NCAA doubles champion in tennis at Auburn University and competed professionally after college. Dr. Kovacs has trained hundreds of world class individuals in sports and business, including Coco Gauff, Frances Tiafoe, John Isner, Dansby Swanson, Mallory (Pugh) Swanson, Emily Sonnett, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Jennifer Brady, Ollie Schniederjans, Vince Whaley, Matt Kuchar, Jason Bohn, Kevin Love, and Darius Garland, among others.

Appearances

  • Thumbnail for Physiology Hacks for Peak Performance
    Date
    May 22, 2024
    Join Dr. Mark Kovacs (the VP of health and performance for Canyon Ranch and former senior director of sport science and health for the Cleveland Cavaliers) and explore the ways in which science plays a critical role in improving mindset, integrating body, mind and spirit…

    Speaker

    Speaker Image for Mark Kovacs
    Vice President, Health & Performance , Canyon Ranch
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