Meet the Team
Jeff Ruser, Ph.D., CMPC
Founder, Lead Mental Performance Consultant
Eli Friedman, M.S.
Mental Performance Consultant
Madeline Koch, M.S.
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.
Madeline Koch
Mental Performance Consultant
Madeline Koch, M.S. is a mental performance consultant with experience supporting youth, high school, and collegiate athletes. She holds a master’s degree in counseling and sport psychology and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Counseling Psychology at Indiana University with a focus on sport and performance. As a former Division I volleyball player, Madeline integrates her athletic background with her advanced graduate training to help athletes thrive. Her research focuses on the experiences of female student-athletes navigating the college transfer portal and recruitment process.
Madeline has partnered with teams, coaches, and individual athletes to enhance both performance and well-being. She has facilitated psychoeducational workshops for athletic administrators and collaborated with teams to strengthen confidence, trust, and commitment. In her individual and group work, she equips athletes with tools to manage challenges such as negative self-talk, pre-performance anxiety, body image concerns, and comparison. Grounded in evidence-based strategies and tailored to each client, Madeline’s approach empowers athletes to become the best version of themselves—in and out of sport.