Joseph Mills
Specialization(s)
sport, psychology, sociology, pedagogy
Professional Biography
Joe Mills is an International Adjunct Professor of Sports Coaching at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology. Originally from the U.K., and now Canadian, Joe is also a former schoolteacher, international track athlete, clinical Pilates teacher who transitioned mid-career after being asked to become a senior manager in a High School. Wanting a change, he transitioned through three graduate degrees and a professional accreditation program as a sports psychologist.
Joe’s research and teaching crosses the intersections of the social sciences—psychology and sociology—and sport, exercise, coaching and pedagogy, by drawing from post-structural theories that explore the complex social forces that shape and inform the body to reveal unseen problems and unintended consequences to improve knowledge and practice. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, presented at leading conferences, and consulted for international sports organizations.
Degree(s)
PhD, Sport Psychology University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
M.Sc., Sport and Exercise Psychology University of Brunel, London, U.K.
Grad Dip, Psychology, University of East London, London, U.K.
Post-Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) History, University of Greenwich, London, U.K.
BA (Hons) History and Politics, University of Essex, Essex, U.K
Licensure / Accreditations
Registered Psychologist, Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) (U.K.)
Chartered Scientist, British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES)
Licensed school teacher, U.K.
Licensed Clinical Pilates Teacher
Featured Publications
Mills, J. & Bjorndal, C. T. (2025). Endurance running’s mechanical topography: A Foucauldian discourse analysis of coaches’ knowledges. Sports Coaching Review, doi.org/10.1080/21640629.2025.2541142
Mills, J., Kuklick, C., Campbell, S., & Obando, G. (2024). ‘They resist, we resist’: towards the post-coach. Sport, Education and Society, 1–13.
Mills, J. (2023). Moving afresh: A narrative and Foucauldian analysis of transitioning to new movement practices. In Exercise and Well-Being after High-Performance Sport: Post-Retirement Perspectives. London, U.K: Routledge.
Mills, J., Gearity, B., Kuklick, C. & Bible, J. (2022). Making Foucault coach: Turning post-structural assumptions into coaching praxis. Sports Coaching Review.
Mills, J., Gearity, B., & Denison, J. (2020). Breaking coaching’s rules: Transforming the body sport and performance. Journal of Sports and Social Issues.
Mills, J., & Denison, J. (2016). How power moves: A Foucauldian analysis of [in]effective coaching. International Review of the Sociology of Sport.
Performances
Presentations
Camire, M & Mills, J. (June, 2025). Post-structural and post-humanist sports coaching and athlete development. Invited keynote pre-conference workshop at the Cluster for Research into Coaching Conference, Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
Mills, J. (July, 2024). Rethinking mental skills. Guest lead speaker, New York Yankees, Mental Conditioning dept. (online).
Mills J. (November, 2024). Towards a Safe[r] Sport. The North American Society for the Sociology of Sport Conference, Chicago, IL.
Mills J. (November, 2023). Building the machines: A Foucauldian coaching discourse analysis. The North American Society for the Sociology of Sport Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Mills, J., Gearity, B., & Kuklick, C. (June, 2020 postponed 2021). Bridging the science—reality divide: a practical way forward. USCCE Summit, Birmingham, Alabama, US.
