Jacqueline Kelly
Jacqueline Kelly is a seasoned mental performance and strength & conditioning coach, currently serving as the Mental Performance Coach for Boston Legacy FC and owner of Kelly Performance Wellness. In these roles, she provides individualized mental performance coaching, sports hypnosis, and virtual programs designed to optimize both physical and cognitive performance. Jacqueline works with a wide range of clients, including professional athletes, military personnel, business leaders, and individuals managing chronic conditions, helping them achieve peak performance while fostering resilience, confidence, and emotional regulation.
Her professional philosophy emphasizes continual learning, objectivity, and results-driven coaching. Jacqueline approaches every client with “zero ego,” focusing on facts to reduce unnecessary suffering and building credibility through measurable outcomes and referrals. Over her 30-year career, she has trained youth athletes, Olympic-registered competitors, professional golfers, and older adults, integrating expertise in psychology, movement, and performance optimization to create customized training plans.
Jacqueline’s career began as a college basketball player and evolved through her degree in exercise physiology and certifications in strength and conditioning (NSCA-CSCS) and mental performance (CMPC). She is listed on the United States Olympic & Paralympic mental performance registry and has been recognized as an Influential Woman in Mesa, Arizona for 2026. Jacqueline advises the next generation to build strong training foundations, pursue mentorship and certifications strategically, and cultivate referral networks and collaborative partnerships to ensure long-term success and sustainability in the field.
• Registered Psychotherapist
• Certificate in Sports Psychology
• Certified Mental Performance Consultant®
• Listed on the United States Olympic & Paralympic Mental Performance Directory
• Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator
• Corrective Exercise Specialist
• Certified Personal Trainer
• NSCA-CSCS
• California Southern University- Master's
• Western Michigan University- Bachelor's
• Listed on the Olympic Registry
• ASP
• NSCA
• The Refuge
• Parkinson's Association of the Rockies
• ASAP
• National Association of Sports Medicine
• National Strength and Conditioning Association
• Kate Kimberly Foundation
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
• The Refuge, A Healing Place
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to lifelong learning. My journey—from college basketball and strength training to becoming a certified mental performance coach—has been guided by a fascination with how the mind adapts under pressure and how intentional mental training can transform performance and lives. Every client I’ve worked with, from elite athletes to individuals facing neurological challenges, has taught me something valuable, and their lessons continue to shape how I coach, lead, and grow.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from my mentor, Dr. Stephen Walker, who taught me to separate facts from assumptions. After the tragic loss of my partner, he helped me focus on what truly happened—nothing more, nothing less—which allowed me to move forward instead of being consumed by “what ifs” and regrets. That lesson has shaped not only how I handle personal challenges, but also how I coach clients to approach performance, problem-solving, and resilience with clarity and focus.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t have built my practice alone—I would have partnered with others for collaboration and accountability, which is incredibly powerful. For young women entering this field, I advise prioritizing mentorship, building strong referral networks, and choosing training programs that include supervised, hands-on experience. The work is demanding and costly, but with the right support and guidance, it is deeply rewarding.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide me are resilience, continual learning, and applying practical wisdom gained from both personal challenges and professional experiences. I approach my work with zero ego, seeing every client as a teacher and opportunity to grow. Beyond my practice, service to others is central—volunteering with nonprofits and giving back to my community reflects my belief that leadership extends far beyond business.
