Jenni (Benningfield) Black is a former professional athlete, a Professional Certified Coach (ICF-PCC), and a mental performance coach with over 1,500 hours of professional coaching experience. She has worked across athletics, education, and tech, guiding high-performing athletes, coaches, and leaders across various levels, industries, and sports.
Jenni (Benningfield) Black, Mental Performance Coach
Introduce yourself! Tell us a bit about your story.
Hi! I’m Jenni, but you can call me JB. I’m a former collegiate and professional athlete who now serves as a mental performance coach.
Originally from Louisville, KY, I was introduced to sports early on, competing daily against my three older brothers in our backyard before becoming a high school All-American in basketball and volleyball. As a senior, I was named Kentucky’s Miss Basketball and went on to play at Vanderbilt University, where I was a four-year starter, won two SEC tournament championships, and made multiple deep NCAA tournament runs, including two Elite Eight appearances. The summer before my senior year, I represented Team USA Basketball at the Pan-American Games, was elected co-captain, and earned a silver medal.
After college, I was drafted 22nd overall by the Charlotte Sting before landing with the Indiana Fever, where I played for two seasons. My WNBA career also opened doors internationally, allowing me to play for four years in Spain and finish my career in Australia.
When I stepped away from basketball, I embraced a new challenge: earning a master’s degree in counseling with a specialization in sports psychology. I applied these skills in my next chapter, coaching basketball at both the high school and Division 1 levels.
When COVID reshaped the world, I saw it as an opportunity for growth, both personally and professionally. This led me to become a Professional Certified Coach (ICF-PCC), an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner, and a Mental Performance Coach. Since then, I’ve worked with athletes, coaches, parents, and corporate leaders, helping them develop the mindset and tools to succeed, not just in sports or their field of expertise but in life.
Now based in Colorado, I live with my wife and two huskies and enjoy hiking, traveling, working out, and being a fan of collegiate and professional sports.
What is a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today?
Like many professional athletes, my journey was filled with highs and lows. I trained relentlessly, thousands of hours of practice, conditioning, and film study, all to become stronger, faster, and smarter. However, one crucial ingredient was missing: the mental skills to handle the emotional and psychological demands of the game.
It wasn’t until my final year as a pro that I worked with a sports psychologist, and it changed everything. For the first time, I truly grasped the power of mental performance. I couldn’t help but wonder how different my career might have been if I had these tools earlier, to navigate confidence swings, handle pressure, overcome mistakes, separate my identity from performance, manage injuries, adapt to coaching styles, transition between levels, face the fear of retirement, and discover who I truly am beyond basketball.
As I stepped away from the game, I knew I wanted to help athletes avoid the same struggles I faced. That led me to gain more knowledge and experience by completing my master’s degree and earning a mental performance coaching certification, all while applying it to athletes and coaches at various levels, as well as consulting leaders in various fields.
Looking back, I don’t think about wins, records, or awards. I think about the people I competed with, learned from, and grew alongside. Basketball gave me so much, and my goal is to keep giving back. That is where the journey started in creating Inner Opponent Coaching.
What inspired you to create Inner Opponent Coaching?
Inner Opponent Coaching was built to provide the mental playbook to overcome the biggest competitor you will ever face: yourself.
Every day, it is you versus you.
And the battle within holds limiting beliefs, the inner critic whispering doubts, the fear of both failure and success, the weight of past mistakes, and the anxiety of an uncertain future. Add in a lack of clarity and direction, conflicting self-identity and values, unclear goals, and the haunting question that can be so loud it is hard to hear anything else: “Am I good enough?” (Spoiler alert: yes, you are!)
What’s your purpose, mission, and driving force for all the work you do?
Inner Opponent Coaching has been a vision and passion of mine for a long time. The name holds deep meaning because I’ve spent years battling my inner opponent, and truthfully, it’s still a work in progress. But I finally stepped out of my own way to create this for you.
Inner Opponent Coaching is built for those who are driven yet feel stuck and unsure how to break through their own barriers. It’s shaped by my experiences and fueled by a commitment to equip others with the mental tools needed to succeed.
It’s also for my past self, the version of me who missed opportunities and possibilities simply because I didn’t have the right mindset to overcome the obstacles in front of me. Now, I’m here to help you win your inner battles.
Who are the clients you work with?
I work with highly driven individuals, teams, and those who support them, including athletes, coaches, sports parents, and organizational leaders at various levels.
If you're a coach or leader who shows up for your team, I invite you to think about:
Who is coaching you? How are you growing and improving? What if you had a coach? What could be different for you?
Is there a common challenge that your clients face?
Each individual’s journey is unique, yet many face common challenges that impact performance, growth, and well-being.
My work with clients focuses on helping them navigate challenges such as:
Overcoming mental barriers: Tackling self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and limiting beliefs.
Building confidence & motivation: Identifying strengths, setting clear goals, creating habits that support your goals, and preventing burnout.
Managing performance anxiety & pressure: Conquering overthinking, perfectionism, and fear of failure while effectively managing energy and focus.
Enhancing focus & mental clarity: Building effective routines, minimizing distractions, and practicing mindfulness.
Navigating transitions & identity shifts: Adjusting to career changes, retirement, or new roles.
Handling adversity & uncertainty: Managing injuries, team dynamics, and unexpected changes.
Building leadership skills: Developing effective communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
And that’s just the beginning. Wherever you are in your journey, I’m here to help you break through and move forward toward the things that matter most to you.
What services or products does Inner Opponent Coaching offer?
Inner Opponent Coaching offers personalized 1-on-1 sessions, small group coaching, and team coaching, along with an Energy Leadership Assessment to help you gain insight into the lens through which you view the world.
After a complimentary discovery call to assess whether we’re the right fit, we’ll collaborate to create a tailored game plan that outlines the best path forward to help you achieve your goals.
What are the criteria for a client to work with you?
My ideal client is driven, dedicated to personal growth, ready to invest in themselves, and committed to taking action to achieve success. They’re not looking for a quick fix or advice; they recognize that they are the expert in their own life.
If you are on the fence, here is something to consider:
If you are not investing in yourself, what could it be costing you?
What would you like the reader to do next?
Throughout 2025, I will be sharing tools and tips from my “mental playbook” that I believe will help any high-achieving human perform at their best in their craft.
Until then:
Check out my website and follow me on social media.
Connect with me through my website or on LinkedIn.
Share this article with others who could benefit from a coach like me.
And if you are interested in creating a game plan together that gets you closer to winning at what truly matters to you, don’t wait, let’s connect!
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