Symposium 2026 | College Sports and Olympic Development: The Role of Research in a Changing Landscape
College Sports and Olympic Development: The Role of Research in a Changing Landscape
As college, Olympic, and professional sports undergo change, how can researchers support coaches and athletes, and what role should research play? Leaders from athletics and sports medicine discuss how science can advance athlete development and performance amid a shifting landscape.
MODERATOR
Scott Delp, PhD
Scott Delp is the James H. Clark Professor of Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Orthopaedic Surgery at Stanford University and the Director of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance at Stanford. He is focused on developing technologies to advance movement science and human health. His lab’s software tools, such as OpenSim, have become the basis of an international collaboration involving thousands of students and scientists who exchange simulations of human movement. He has published over 350 research articles, co-founded six health technology companies, and is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering.
PANELIST
John Donahoe, MBA
John Donahoe is the Jaquish & Kenninger Director and Chair of Athletics at Stanford University, appointed by University President Jon Levin in 2025 as the eighth athletics director in Stanford history. He most recently served as President and CEO of NIKE, Inc. from 2020 to 2024, following prior CEO roles at ServiceNow and eBay, board chairmanship at PayPal, and nearly 20 years at Bain & Company, where he rose from consultant to CEO. A Stanford Graduate School of Business alumnus who earned his MBA there in 1986, Donahoe has said his priorities for Stanford Athletics include sustaining the university’s scholar-athlete model, building a sustainable financial framework, and ensuring the department remains among the best in college athletics.
PANELIST
John Tanner
John Tanner, entering his 30th season as head coach of the Stanford University women’s water polo program in 2026, has led the Cardinal to 10 NCAA titles and guided his teams to every NCAA Championship since the event’s inception, never finishing lower than third. Inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame, he has developed numerous NCAA and Olympic champions while prioritizing long-term athlete and personal development, impacting the Stanford community and the sport on a national and global scale.
PANELIST
Heather Vincent, PhD
Heather Vincent is Director of Sports Medicine Research at the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). With over 25 years in clinical and applied exercise research, she co-founded the University of Florida’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and directed the university’s Health Sports Performance Center as Vice Chair of Research. Her work examines the health benefits of exercise across the lifespan and how physical activity can prevent injury and disease. She partners with clinicians to bridge the research-to-clinic chasm and produce meaningful change to athlete health, and is active with ACSM, OARSI, and AAPMR.
PANELIST
Ben McKay, MS
Ben McKay is the Director of Performance and Sports Science at the University of Oregon, where he oversees the sport science, nutrition and strength and conditioning departments. Since joining the Ducks’ Athletic Department in 2018, he has spearheaded the athlete monitoring systems designed to optimize training load, recovery, and long‑term availability. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, a Master’s in Clinical Exercise Physiology, and a second Master’s by Research, investigating the physiological effects of training and competition in collegiate football.
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