Human Performance Scientist | Durability Pioneer | Longevity & Healthspan Expert | Sports & Health Tech Innovator
Dr. Mark Kovacs is a globally recognized expert in human performance, sports/executive science, and leader in the health and wellness sector. Dr. Kovacs sits at the cutting edge of longevity, technology, and innovation. A former professional athlete and NCAA champion tennis player turned performance physiologist, he brings a rare combination of elite athletic experience, academic rigor, and executive leadership to his work helping individuals and organizations achieve sustainable high performance.
With a PhD in Human Performance (Exercise Physiology) and more than two decades of applied research and field experience, Dr. Kovacs has worked with world-class athletes—including Grand Slam tennis champions, NBA All-Stars, 200 million dollar athletes and Olympic medalists—as well as C-suite leaders, Fortune 100 companies, and national sports federations. His approach combines scientific precision with real-world application, using data-driven protocols and cutting-edge technologies to optimize performance, durability, and healthspan.
Dr. Kovacs previously served in senior executive roles at Pepsico, Gatorade, Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) and as the VP of Health & Performance for the largest wellness resort healthcare company in the United States. He played a key role in developing longevity programs, next-generation solutions in biometric monitoring, predictive recovery, sweat and blood testing protocols and corporate wellness strategies—bridging the gap between health optimization and business performance.
In addition to his leadership roles, Dr. Kovacs is an active advisor and investor in several pioneering health tech, sports science, and longevity-focused companies (Seed, Series A & B). His portfolio includes companies innovating in areas such as wearable diagnostics, personalized biomarker testing, neurotechnology, nutrition, wellness and digital therapeutics. He is regularly called upon by founders, VCs, and institutional investors to assess market viability, scalability, and the scientific validity of new technologies at the intersection of health and human performance.
Dr. Kovacs is the founder of the Kovacs Institute and has published more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers, abstracts and book chapters. Dr. Kovacs is a sought-after keynote speaker and thought leader known for translating complex science into practical strategies for executives, teams, and high performers across disciplines.
His mission is clear: to help people live stronger, healthier, happier, longer— and become the most durable version of themselves.
Mark's unique skillset combines backgrounds as a performance physiologist, wellness/longevity/health expert, researcher, professor, author, speaker and coach with an extensive background training and researching the best at what they do. He also serves as the Executive Director of the International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA), has been on the Medical Advisory Group for the US Open Tennis Championships.
Dr. Kovacs is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). He was an All-American and NCAA doubles champion in tennis at Auburn University and earned his PhD from the University of Alabama. He is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS) and Master Tennis Performance Specialist (MTPS) through the iTPA, and in 2012 he was the youngest ever recipient of the International Tennis Hall of Fame Educational Merit Award. He now travels the world working with the worlds best, speaking at conferences and to corporations and has educated more than one million people in over 30 countries and five continents.
Visit Kovacs Institute Website
View Kovacs Institute online courses
Dr. Mark Kovacs is a globally recognized expert in human performance, sports/executive science, and leader in the health and wellness sector. Dr. Kovacs sits at the cutting edge of longevity, technology, and innovation. A former professional athlete and NCAA champion tennis player turned performance physiologist, he brings a rare combination of elite athletic experience, academic rigor, and executive leadership to his work helping individuals and organizations achieve sustainable high performance.
With a PhD in Human Performance (Exercise Physiology) and more than two decades of applied research and field experience, Dr. Kovacs has worked with world-class athletes—including Grand Slam tennis champions, NBA All-Stars, 200 million dollar athletes and Olympic medalists—as well as C-suite leaders, Fortune 100 companies, and national sports federations. His approach combines scientific precision with real-world application, using data-driven protocols and cutting-edge technologies to optimize performance, durability, and healthspan.
Dr. Kovacs previously served in senior executive roles at Pepsico, Gatorade, Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) and as the VP of Health & Performance for the largest wellness resort healthcare company in the United States. He played a key role in developing longevity programs, next-generation solutions in biometric monitoring, predictive recovery, sweat and blood testing protocols and corporate wellness strategies—bridging the gap between health optimization and business performance.
In addition to his leadership roles, Dr. Kovacs is an active advisor and investor in several pioneering health tech, sports science, and longevity-focused companies (Seed, Series A & B). His portfolio includes companies innovating in areas such as wearable diagnostics, personalized biomarker testing, neurotechnology, nutrition, wellness and digital therapeutics. He is regularly called upon by founders, VCs, and institutional investors to assess market viability, scalability, and the scientific validity of new technologies at the intersection of health and human performance.
Dr. Kovacs is the founder of the Kovacs Institute and has published more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers, abstracts and book chapters. Dr. Kovacs is a sought-after keynote speaker and thought leader known for translating complex science into practical strategies for executives, teams, and high performers across disciplines.
His mission is clear: to help people live stronger, healthier, happier, longer— and become the most durable version of themselves.
Mark's unique skillset combines backgrounds as a performance physiologist, wellness/longevity/health expert, researcher, professor, author, speaker and coach with an extensive background training and researching the best at what they do. He also serves as the Executive Director of the International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA), has been on the Medical Advisory Group for the US Open Tennis Championships.
Dr. Kovacs is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). He was an All-American and NCAA doubles champion in tennis at Auburn University and earned his PhD from the University of Alabama. He is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS) and Master Tennis Performance Specialist (MTPS) through the iTPA, and in 2012 he was the youngest ever recipient of the International Tennis Hall of Fame Educational Merit Award. He now travels the world working with the worlds best, speaking at conferences and to corporations and has educated more than one million people in over 30 countries and five continents.
Visit Kovacs Institute Website
View Kovacs Institute online courses
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Dr. Mark Kovacs, FACSM, CTPS, MTPS, CSCS*D, USPTA, PTR
World Renowned Expert in Sport Science & Human Performance
He has worked with thousands of the top performers in the world across many sports, business and creative fields. His expertise is a Chief Performance and Health Officer for your life. This includes concierge, discrete and highly personalized services to help you become the best version of yourself.
As a sports administrator & executive he has worked at the highest level of sports and industry. This includes leading the Sport Science and Health areas for an NBA franchise (Medical, Nutrition, Physiology, Biomechanics, Analytics, Physical Therapy, Strength & Conditioning, Load Monitoring and Player Evaluation). He was the Director of the Gatorade Sport Science Institute which was established in 1985 and is committed to helping athletes optimize their health and performance through research and education in hydration and nutrition science. He was also an executive at Pepsico working in the area of long term research and innovation focused on improving athletic performance and monitoring using science and technology. He also directed the Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning and Coaching Education departments for the United States Tennis Association (USTA). The USTA is the largest National Sports Governing Body in the US. During his tenure at the USTA he created the integration of the medical and sport science services for full time athletes at the National Training Center in Boca Raton, Florida as well as the development of full service care and training at satellite facilities in Los Angeles and New York. He was instrumental on securing a long term partnership with Cleveland Clinic Florida as well as creating a systematic approach to the training and treatment of tennis athletes throughout the US. He is also the co-founder of the International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA), which is the worldwide leader in tennis-specific performance enhancement and injury prevention education and certification (www.itpa-tennis.org). It is an international organization with members in over 40 countries focused on improving standards in the training and treatment of tennis athletes from the weekend warrior to the top professional players. The organization offers in-person and online educational opportunities for Strength & Conditioning professionals, athletic trainers, physical therapists, medical doctors, chiropractors, tennis coaches and other healthcare providers who work with tennis athletes. The iTPA is also the official education provider for major tennis federations throughout the world. Dr. Kovacs has also served on the investment and finance committees for the National Strength & Conditioning Association and gone through a Finance program for executives through the Emory University Goizueta Business School.
As a sports administrator & executive he has worked at the highest level of sports and industry. This includes leading the Sport Science and Health areas for an NBA franchise (Medical, Nutrition, Physiology, Biomechanics, Analytics, Physical Therapy, Strength & Conditioning, Load Monitoring and Player Evaluation). He was the Director of the Gatorade Sport Science Institute which was established in 1985 and is committed to helping athletes optimize their health and performance through research and education in hydration and nutrition science. He was also an executive at Pepsico working in the area of long term research and innovation focused on improving athletic performance and monitoring using science and technology. He also directed the Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning and Coaching Education departments for the United States Tennis Association (USTA). The USTA is the largest National Sports Governing Body in the US. During his tenure at the USTA he created the integration of the medical and sport science services for full time athletes at the National Training Center in Boca Raton, Florida as well as the development of full service care and training at satellite facilities in Los Angeles and New York. He was instrumental on securing a long term partnership with Cleveland Clinic Florida as well as creating a systematic approach to the training and treatment of tennis athletes throughout the US. He is also the co-founder of the International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA), which is the worldwide leader in tennis-specific performance enhancement and injury prevention education and certification (www.itpa-tennis.org). It is an international organization with members in over 40 countries focused on improving standards in the training and treatment of tennis athletes from the weekend warrior to the top professional players. The organization offers in-person and online educational opportunities for Strength & Conditioning professionals, athletic trainers, physical therapists, medical doctors, chiropractors, tennis coaches and other healthcare providers who work with tennis athletes. The iTPA is also the official education provider for major tennis federations throughout the world. Dr. Kovacs has also served on the investment and finance committees for the National Strength & Conditioning Association and gone through a Finance program for executives through the Emory University Goizueta Business School.
As a leader in the scientific community Dr. Kovacs has earned Fellow status in the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The ACSM is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles and abstracts in top research journals, in addition to presenting workshops and keynote addresses on five continents and well over 200 presentations. His research has been published in top tier scientific publications including the British Journal of Sports Medicine, Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, Sports Health, International Journal of Sports Physiology & Performance, Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise, Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research among others. In 2010 he was awarded the prestigious Plagenhoef Award for sport science achievement (youngest ever recipient), and in 2012 he was the youngest ever International Tennis Hall of Fame Educational Merit Award winner. He currently chairs both the PTR Sport Science Committee and the ITF Health Benefits of Tennis Taskforce. He was a member of the USTA National Sport Science Committee for more than a decade and the International Relations Committee of the ACSM. Over his career he has served on editorial review boards and as a peer reviewer for more than a dozen scientific journals.
Along with his academic and scientific background, Dr. Kovacs is also a coach and former professional athlete. He was an All-American and NCAA doubles champion in tennis at Auburn University. After playing professionally, he completed his graduate work at Auburn University and earned his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from The University of Alabama. Dr. Kovacs is a Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS) and Master Tennis Performance Specialist (MTPS) through the International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a certified Health/Fitness Specialist through the American College of Sports Medicine, a United States Track and Field Level II Sprints Coach and USPTA-P1 Certified Tennis Coach. Over his career he has worked with more than two dozen top professional tennis players including John Isner, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Robby Ginepri, Coco Gauff, Jenson Brooksby, Donald Young, Taylor Townsend as well as dozens of top professional athletes in the NBA, NFL and MLB.
Best Selling Author, Speaker Consultant and Media Expert: Dr. Kovacs has published six books which have been translated into more than a dozen languages on sport and exercise science topics focused on stretching, recovery, mental skills training, anatomy and training. His expertise has been retained by major corporations, academic institutions and media outlets including Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Southern California, University of North Carolina, New York University Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pepsico, Gatorade, IMG Academy, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, ESPN, NCAA, National Athletic Trainers Association, National Strength & Conditioning Association, American College of Sports Medicine, International Tennis Federation, Association of Tennis Professionals, Women’s Tennis Association among others.
Mark Kovacs Google Scholar Link
Along with his academic and scientific background, Dr. Kovacs is also a coach and former professional athlete. He was an All-American and NCAA doubles champion in tennis at Auburn University. After playing professionally, he completed his graduate work at Auburn University and earned his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from The University of Alabama. Dr. Kovacs is a Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS) and Master Tennis Performance Specialist (MTPS) through the International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a certified Health/Fitness Specialist through the American College of Sports Medicine, a United States Track and Field Level II Sprints Coach and USPTA-P1 Certified Tennis Coach. Over his career he has worked with more than two dozen top professional tennis players including John Isner, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Robby Ginepri, Coco Gauff, Jenson Brooksby, Donald Young, Taylor Townsend as well as dozens of top professional athletes in the NBA, NFL and MLB.
Best Selling Author, Speaker Consultant and Media Expert: Dr. Kovacs has published six books which have been translated into more than a dozen languages on sport and exercise science topics focused on stretching, recovery, mental skills training, anatomy and training. His expertise has been retained by major corporations, academic institutions and media outlets including Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Southern California, University of North Carolina, New York University Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pepsico, Gatorade, IMG Academy, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, ESPN, NCAA, National Athletic Trainers Association, National Strength & Conditioning Association, American College of Sports Medicine, International Tennis Federation, Association of Tennis Professionals, Women’s Tennis Association among others.
Mark Kovacs Google Scholar Link
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Follow Dr. Kovacs on twitter for the daily information on all aspects of sport science and human performance @mkovacsphd, facebook www.facebook.com/mkovacsphd
- World Renowned Expert in Sport Science & Human Performance
- Performance Physiologist
- Tennis Stroke and Movement Expert
- Sport Science Consultant to Professional Teams, World Champion Athletes and National Sports Federations
- All-American and NCAA Division 1 National Champion
- Professional Athlete
- Honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award For Sport Science
- Youngest Ever Recipient of International Tennis Hall of Fame Education Award
- Presented Keynote Talks on Five Continents
- Presented To More Than One Million People
- His Work Has Been Translated In More Than 20 Languages
- Corporate Executive at a Fortune 50 Company
- Written six books
- Written over 50 scientific and peer-reviewed articles and book chapters
- Written over 200 articles for magazines, coaching materials, business leaders, corporations and other educational initiatives
- Consulted with more than a dozen national sports federations
- Developed the first full-time, year round sport science, strength & conditioning and sports medicine program for the United States Tennis Association
- Trained more than two dozen top professional athletes in the NBA, NFL, MLB, Professional Tennis.
- Physical Trainer for the US Fed Cup Team
- Physical Trainer for John Isner and other top professional tennis players
- Co-Founder of the International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA) which is the first association focused on tennis-specific performance enhancement and injury prevention education and certification for tennis
- Dr. Kovacs has been quoted in all forms of media from Wall Street Journal and New York Times to ESPN
- Mark has published his scientific work in prestigious journals including the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, Sports Health, British Journal of Sports Medicine, International Journal of Sport Physiology and Performance, Journal of Sport Science & Medicine, Strength & Conditioning Journal, Coaching & Sport Science Review among many others.
- Dr. Kovacs’s clients have included with Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Southern California, Pepsico, Gatorade, University of North Carolina, University of Pittsburgh, ATP World Tour, WTA Tour, US Tennis Association (USTA), International Tennis Federation, Chinese Olympic Committee, United States Olympic Committee, Mexican Tennis Federation, Spanish Tennis Federation, Korean Tennis Association, National Strength & Conditioning Association, American College of Sports Medicine, Bermuda Olympic Association, International Management Group (IMG), Lagardère Unlimited among many others
Books by Mark Kovacs (Click to Purchase)
Appeared, Featured or Quoted In:
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Dr. Kovacs was leading the project while at Gatorade focused on the integration of the latest real-time technology to improve monitoring of hydration and nutrition with some of the best teams and athletes in the world. Watch the video to see a small part of the project - https://vimeo.com/219004193 |
Presented and Consulted For:
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