J.D. DeFreese

J.D. DeFreese, Ph.D., is a Teaching Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research centers on athlete psychological health, including burnout and well-being, and its connections to physical health and social functioning among current and former athletes. DeFreese earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Health and Kinesiology, specializing in Sport and Exercise Psychology, from Purdue University in December 2012 under advisor Dr. Alan L. Smith. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with highest distinction, from Indiana University, conferred in May 2007, with minors in Kinesiology and Political Science.

DeFreese's career at UNC Chapel Hill commenced in 2012 as a Research Associate with the Center for the Study of Retired Athletes (CSRA). He served as Postdoctoral Research Associate from 2013 to 2016 under supervisor Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, then as Clinical Assistant Professor from 2016 onward, advancing to Teaching Associate Professor. He contributes to the CSRA and manages the UNC Brain and Body Health Program within the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. Notable publications include "Teammate social support, burnout, and self-determined motivation in collegiate athletes" (Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2013, with A.L. Smith), "Athlete social support, negative social interactions and psychological health across a competitive sport season" (Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2015, with A.L. Smith), "Concussion non-disclosure during professional career among a cohort of former NFL athletes" (American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2018, with Z. Kerr et al.), "The coach-athlete relationship and athlete psychological outcomes" (Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 2019, with V. McGee), and co-authorship of the textbook "Athlete Burnout: Recognition, Prevention, and Management" (Routledge, 2025, with D.J. Madigan, H. Gustafsson, and L.F. Olsson). Other works address early sport specialization, athletic trainer burnout, and life stressors in college athletes. He received the APA Division 47 Professional Poster Award in 2019 and a collaborative research grant from the Association for Applied Sport Psychology in 2021.

Professional Email: defreese@email.unc.edu