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GROWING THE GAME, STRENGTHENING MINDS.
1:1 Mental Performance Coaching | Team Workshops | Leadership Development​
THE MENTAL SIDE DOESN'T TRAIN ITSELF.
Paragon Mental Performance is an evidence-based mental performance coaching practice for serious athletes. I work with high school and college lacrosse players who want to compete with consistency, not just on their best days. I offer structured, deliberate work on the mental skills that determine how you perform when it counts.
"COACH TIM"
Founder & Mental Performance Consultant
Practices in the snow in February. Four games in a day in July with thirty coaches on the sideline. The mistake that keeps holding you back the rest of the half.
I've been on both sides of our sport, as a player and as a coach. You won't hear things that just sound good. You won't be taking a course, listening to me talk at you. Our sessions are the one place you can say the part you wouldn't say in the locker room, without it costing you playing time.
You'll get a plan built for how you want to play and where you're trying to go.
MEET YOUR MENTAL
PERFORMANCE COACH:
Evidence-Based Mental Performance Consultant For Athletes, Teams, & Coaches.
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TIMOTHY MAHONEY, M.S.
I'm Tim Mahoney, and I hold an M.S. in Sport and Exercise Psychology. My methods are grounded in Sport Psychology, Positive Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Science, Acceptance & Commitment research, and deliberate performance research - the same science that underpins elite performance programs at the collegiate and professional level.
As a former college lacrosse player and longtime high school/club coach, I've lived the recruiting windows, travel weekends, and postseason grind.
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I help elite lacrosse players (8th grade through the professional level), teams, and coaches build evidence-based mental skills that deliver consistent execution: sharper decisions in transition, confidence that holds up under evaluation, and composure when the game is tightest.
M.S. Sport & Exercise Psychology, Northern Illinois University
161 total college commitments (46 NCAA D1 commits in 2025-26)
21 national champions coached
Athletes from 9 countries, youth to pro
Mental toughness isn't innate. It's built through deliberate practice and evidence-based interventions.
PROVEN RESULTS
2025-2026 STATS:
NCAA
College Commitments
58
Division 1
D1 Commits
46
Coached
National Champions
9
WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY:
Ben,
LACROSSE PLAYER
My work with Tim has helped me build the strongest mindset I have ever had. He is easy to work with and can relate to me because of his athletic background.
CONNELY SCHOOL OF
THE HOLY CHILD ATHLETICS
I was impressed by the depth of Tim's experience and the wide variety of work showcased. I left with actionable takeaways and felt the content was highly useful for my role!
BENIN BEMBRY,
VP, TEAM EIGHTEEN
The sessions were thought-provoking, and multiple parents came to me and said they made their kids leave thinking more deeply about their performance on the field.
WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE WAY
You've trained hard. You're physically ready. The next level isn't a talent problem.
Playing great in practice, falling apart in games​
Performance Anxiety before important games.
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Recruiting pressure creating anxiety and mistakes
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Lacking mental resilience in competitions.
Fear of failure impacting your confidence.
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Pressure to perform leads to mistakes.
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In-game focus scattering when it matters most
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Pressure leading to hesitation instead of action
Here's what some of my current clients said about the pressures that come with competing at a high level:
“My heart pounded out of my chest, my thoughts spiraled, and I used to freeze up under pressure.”
You’ve honed your technique, you’ve put in the reps, but when the moment matters most, your mind betrays you. That knot in your stomach grows tighter.
Negative self-talk creeps in (“I’ll choke,” “I’m not good enough”), and suddenly your practice-level skills vanish under game-day stress.
Without targeted mental tools, you’ll keep replaying those mistakes, believing you’re not “built for big moments” even if your talent says otherwise.
-Current Division 1 starting attackman
“Missed shots cost games, scholarships, and life-changing opportunities.”
It’s not just about nerves, it’s about consequences.
Every missed ground ball, every missed shot when you need to spark a comeback, isn’t just a shattered opportunity; it’s the difference between a college coach’s phone call and another summer of waiting to commit.
Coaches notice mental lapses as much as physical errors. That's why we'll work together to give you the tools needed to bounce back and play consistently, no matter the environment.
-Assistant Coach, Top 10 Men's Division 1 program
“All the training I've done means nothing if I can't get my mind right.”
You didn’t grind through early mornings, late nights, and endless drills to fall short on the mental game.
There’s a deeper question at stake: What’s the point of your talent and skill if you can’t unlock things when it counts the most?
Every day you play below your potential, you’re not just losing games, you’re losing confidence in yourself, settling for “good enough,” and narrowing the window on your dreams.
-Midfielder, top 50 Division 1 commit
Sound Familiar?
This isn't a talent problem. It's a mental skills problem. And mental skills are trainable.
Here's exactly how we work together and what you'll gain.
What You'll Gain:
Confident performance under pressure
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Leadership that inspires
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Consistent play across all moments
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Recruiting success through reliable performance
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Resilience to bounce back from setbacks
Here's How We Get There:
1. DISCOVER
During your Performance Diagnostic Sessions,
I assess:
- Where you're losing out on performance during training, practices, and games
- Which mental skills are gaps (focus, confidence, resilience, communication, leadership)
- What patterns are holding you back (negative self-talk spirals, anxiety triggers, decision-making hesitation)
You'll leave with clear understanding of what's blocking you and why fixing it matters for your recruiting, championships, and consistency.
Outcome:
After the diagnostic, you'll have a clear picture of where the gaps are and a specific program recommendation. Ongoing programs run for a minimum of 3 months. Most athletes continue beyond that.
2. DEVELOP
You build durable mental skills through targeted coaching.
Using evidence-based methods and real-scenario training, we work on:
- Managing pressure and anxiety in high-stakes moments
- Building unshakeable self-talk and confidence
- Sharpening focus and decision-making under stress
- Developing leadership and communication skills (if applicable)
- Creating routines that lock in performance
This isn't a cookie-cutter program. This is deliberate practice for your mind, specific to your situation and goals.
Outcome:
You build repeatable, trainable mental skills. Results compound over time.
3. DOMINATE
You execute with consistency and confidence.
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- By this phase, you've internalized the mental tools.
- You're performing in games like you do in practice.
- You're handling pressure like an elite player.
- You're leading when it counts.
Your confidence is earned, not manufactured.
Outcome:
Consistent performance. Recruiting success. Championship moments. Leadership. The results you've been working toward.
Most athletes see meaningful results within 2-3 weeks of consistent coaching.
Many notice shifts after their first session. The key: You show up and do the work.
PROGRAMS THAT TRUST PARAGON
From elite travel programs to high school dynasties, these are some of the teams that have trusted me to develop their athletes' mental game.
Atlanta Athletic Club • D1 programs • State champions • College lacrosse & hockey • Top-50 travel programs
EXCEEDING THE STANDARD.
My mission is simple: make real mental performance training
accessible to the athletes who want it.
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Most players never get this. They get a pep talk before playoffs
and a coach telling them to relax. Nobody sits down with them to work out what's actually happening in their game.
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That's what we do together, and it's how they build the skills to
perform at a high level consistently.
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600+ individual athletes coached. Thousands more reached through team workshops and seminars, including elite athletes and CEOs.
Get In
Touch!
Coach Tim
Have a question? Fill out the contact form below!
Any Questions? I'm Here To Help.