William Graham IV has made history last summer as the first graduate of Troy University’s Master of Kinesiology in Sport Psychology program, and he’s already using his platform to advocate for mental health in athletics, medicine and the military. 

Graham’s passion for sport psychology stems from personal experience and a desire to address the growing mental health crisis among high-performing individuals. He recalled the tragic loss of Kyren Lacy, a former athlete at his previous school, who died by suicide. 

“In my opinion, he was a great athlete, but the world around him got so hectic,” Graham said. “He may not have known how to mentally prepare himself for that.” 

Graham believes mental health support is often overlooked in many sectors, including sports, education and government. He sees sport psychology as a growing field that could double in size annually over the next five years. 

“There’s a lot more physician suicides now because of burnout and the high expectations put on them,” he said. “We don’t have enough mental health professionals dealing with this.” 

Graham also sees a critical need for sport psychology in the military. Living near Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, he has witnessed the emotional toll on service members and veterans. 

“When all you really knew was combat, it’s a hard transition,” he said. “That stress trickles into their job, into their home life.” 

He noted that many major military bases are now working to bring certified sport psychologists in-house to support both active-duty personnel and veterans. 

As the first to complete TROY’s new program, Graham is paving the way for future professionals in a field that is becoming increasingly vital. His work highlights the importance of mental resilience and the need for comprehensive support systems in high-pressure environments.