Meet the Team
Jeff Ruser, Ph.D., CMPC
Founder, Lead Mental Performance Consultant
Eli Friedman, M.S.
Mental Performance Consultant
Justin Hornsby, Psy.D.
Mental Performance Consultant
Consulting Philosophy
At RPW, we believe mental performance—both individual and organizational—is what distinguishes high performers in their pursuit of excellence.
We work collaboratively with each client to uncover their unique needs, strengths, and aspirations, then design a tailored consultation plan. By directly addressing root challenges, leveraging individual strengths, and acknowledging that true high performance is a long-term journey requiring perseverance and resilience, we help athletes and leaders develop the mental skills needed to perform consistently, independently, and at their highest level.
Jeff Ruser
Founder, Lead Mental Performance Consultant
Jeff Ruser, Ph.D, CMPC, is a mental performance consultant with nearly a decade of experience empowering high performers across high school, collegiate, and professional athletics. He emphasizes the critical role of mental training and organizational alignment in achieving excellence.
Currently serving as a Sport Psychologist at the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Ruser collaborates with Division I athletes and teams to enhance their mental performance and address specific mental health needs.
With a Ph.D. in Counseling and Sport Psychology from Indiana University, and a Master’s degree in Sport Psychology from Fresno State, Dr. Ruser is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) accredited by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Dr. Ruser offers expertise in mental performance enhancement, athlete mental health and wellness, athlete development, coach consultation, and talent identification and selection.
Testimonial by Indiana University Athletic Department (July 2020). Video accompanies Ruser’s article “Mastering Motivation".
Eli Friedman
Mental Performance Consultant
Eli J. Friedman, M.S., is an experienced mental performance consultant with experience across high school, collegiate, and professional athletics. He is currently an advanced doctoral candidate in Counseling Psychology at Indiana University, specializing in sport and performance psychology. Eli provides ongoing mental health and performance services to NCAA Division I athletes and conducts peer-reviewed research on coach mental health in the context of the NIL and transfer portal era.
Eli previously served in integral roles for nationally prominent basketball programs at the University of Arizona and Indiana University, as well as in the NBA with the New York Knicks. He continues to incorporate experience and wisdom from these experiences into his mental performance consulting.
Justin Hornsby
Mental Performance Consultant
Justin Hornsby, Psy.D., is a sport psychology professional with extensive experience in mental performance consulting across high school and collegiate sports. As a former Division I college football player, Justin integrates firsthand athletic insight with advanced doctoral-level training in psychology.
Justin is currently a Post-Doctoral Resident in Sport Psychology at The Ohio State University, where he serves Buckeye student-athletes. His previous stops include the University of Notre Dame and the University of Southern California.
He specializes in performance enhancement, anxiety reduction, and resilience-building through evidence-based strategies. Justin has delivered mental skills training and psychoeducational workshops within athletic departments and led individual and team sessions focused on improving focus, confidence, and mental toughness. His approach combines sport psychology expertise and cultural responsiveness to support athletes in achieving their full potential both on and off the field.