Dr. Josiah Igono: Meeting Athletes at the Intersection of Sport, Mindset, and Truth
When Dr. Josiah Igono joined Arizona Christian University in July 2024, he did not arrive through a traditional academic route. He came from locker rooms, dugouts, weight rooms, and Major League clubhouses.
Today, he serves as Associate Professor of Psychology and Physiology and leads ACU’s performance psychology initiative, FLIGHT. He teaches courses ranging from Clinical Anatomy and Kinesiology to Sport Psychology, Cross-Cultural Counseling, Health Psychology, Psychology of Learning and Motivation, Abnormal Psychology, and Principles of Professional Coaching. Yet his influence reaches well beyond the classroom.
Through FLIGHT, Dr. Igono works with athletes at the intersection of sport, mindset, and truth. The initiative operates through one-on-one sessions, small team gatherings, and large group events. The message remains consistent. Performance is not just physical. It is mental. And it is spiritual.
“Performance is not just physical. It is mental. And it is spiritual.”
A lifelong Phoenician, Dr. Igono and his wife, Erin, have been married for 16 years and are raising four children. Arizona has shaped both his life and career. He began playing football at Arizona State University before transferring to Northern Arizona University to complete his degree. After college, he served in inner-city and sports ministry before stepping into collegiate athletics at Grand Canyon University during its transition to Division I.
He later spent nearly a decade with the Texas Rangers organization. His roles included Strength and Conditioning Professional, Minor League Performance Psychology Director, and ultimately Major League Director of Peak Performance. While that path could have continued, he sensed a new direction. During his transition out of professional sports, he repeatedly found himself investing in college athletes and families. Through prayer and wise counsel, it became clear that his next assignment was at the collegiate level. Fortunately, the opportunity at ACU aligned with that calling.
One recent FLIGHT event captured that vision. ACU hosted award-winning major league catcher Jose Trevino of the Cincinnati Reds to speak on the Psychology of Adversity. Coaches, athletes, and members of the community gathered to hear firsthand what it takes to navigate setbacks at the highest level of competition. Students volunteered, and faculty and staff collaborated across departments with the evening concluding in prayer.
Dr. Igono often teaches students a simple principle. Under the right conditions, a magnifying glass can create fire in seconds. Focus produces power. The same is true in life. Intentionality shapes outcomes.
At ACU, he values the freedom to integrate truth across academics, athletics, and the marketplace. His approach to high performance centers on disciplined focus, identity, and purpose rather than hype.
In addition to his practical experience, Dr. Igono is a published author. His books include Own The Pieces, Beating Burnout, Unconventional Leadership, Is Your Daddy Tough?, and No Missing Pieces. He has also written e-books on performance and resilience and collaborated with organizations such as Gatorade and the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Association. His work bridges research, elite athletics, leadership, and conviction.
As FLIGHT and the Psychology and Physiology programs continue to grow, the momentum is clear. Students at Arizona Christian University are learning from a professor who has competed and led at the highest levels and now invests that experience into shaping resilient, disciplined leaders prepared for impact beyond the game.
