Bader joins Razorback Athletics
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Dr. Christopher Bader has joined Razorback Athletics as the assistant athletics director for mental health and performance, vice chancellor and director of athletics Hunter Yurachek announced on Wednesday. Bader comes to Arkansas after serving as the director of psychological health and performance at the University of Colorado.
“We are excited to welcome to Chris, LaTisha and Adella to the Razorback Family,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek said. “Dr. Bader’s experience as a mental health provider within college athletics will enable us to provide the highest quality of care to our student-athletes, coaches and staff. His expertise and leadership will be integral to our continued commitment to the health and wellbeing of the 465+ young men and women who are part of our program.”
Bader will oversee all general psychological services (evaluation, treatment, and education) for Razorback Athletics, including coordinating and providing consultation and relevant training to coaches, athletic trainers, and other athletic department staff. Additionally, he will be responsible for the development and implementation of philosophies, policies, and procedures of counseling service operations for student-athletes.
“I am thrilled to be joining the Razorback staff and family, and I want to sincerely thank Mr. Yurachek, Jon Fagg, and Derita Ratcliffe for this opportunity,” Bader said. “Derita and I connected immediately, and she was integral in helping LaTisha and I feel right at home during my interview and visit. The staff and coaches here truly care about the student-athlete experience, and that combined with the atmosphere around Fayetteville made this a great opportunity for our family.”
At Colorado, Bader oversaw the program’s psychological health and sports performance services. Over his time, he expanded the staff and services to the CU student-athletes. Bader provided mental health services including clinical, assessment and individual and team consultation to the student-athletes and coaches at CU. In addition, he worked with incoming student-athletes in their adjustment to their new environment and in preparation for their matriculation through CU. Other areas of responsibility included serving on several department and university-wide committees. Bader also serves as the national team sport psychologist for USA Boxing and USA Men’s Cricket.
Prior to Colorado, Bader was on staff in the Psychological Resources for Student-Athletes (PROS) office at the University of Oklahoma. Bader is licensed as a psychologist (LP) in the states of Oklahoma (inactive) and Colorado. He currently holds the title of Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, and he is a member of the United States Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Louisiana State University in 1998, where he was a member and president of the Rugby Football Club. Also, at LSU, Bader was a member and president of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, a member of the Golden Band from Tigerland (tenor saxophone), and a member of LSU’s Student Government Association.
Bader earned his Master’s degree in Psychology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and while doing so he discovered the field of sport psychology. From there, he chose to attend the University of North Texas, where he earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Sport & Exercise Psychology. He completed his pre-doctoral internship through the Oklahoma Health Consortium with a primary rotation in the OU athletics department. He stayed on at PROS in various capacities for four years following his internship.
He enjoys teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and regularly attends and participates in national and international professional conferences. He is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), and the Collegiate Clinical/Counseling Sport Psychology Association (CCSPA). Bader served as the inaugural Vice Chair of the CCSPA and was recently elected Chair. His professional interests include diversity and inclusion, leadership development, athletic administration, men’s issues and student-athlete development and transition.
He was born Sept. 15th in Charlotte, N.C., raised in Memphis, TN. Bader graduated from Christian Brothers High School in Memphis. He is married to LaTisha Bader, also a psychologist, sport psychologist, and addiction expert; and the couple have a daughter, Adella (3).
