Meet the founder

Meet the Founder

My name is Kyle Upton, founder of Mental Edge Journal.

I’ve been blessed to serve student athletes in multiple roles as a championship-winning basketball coach, six time Coach of the Year in Nashville, TN, and as a school leader focused on building strong, supportive cultures. Throughout my coaching career, I’ve helped send numerous athletes on to compete at the next level. Those experiences gave me a front-row seat to the pressure, expectations, and mental strain athletes face while trying to perform at a high level.

Beyond the court, I’ve worked in school leadership as a Principal of Culture, where my responsibility was to create structure, consistency, and systems that lead to lasting behavior change and strong social emotional growth. In that role, I saw firsthand how mental awareness, reflection, and emotional regulation directly impact confidence, performance, and overall well-being.

Those combined experiences led me to journaling. What started as a personal tool to manage stress, stay grounded, and lead with clarity quickly became something I wanted to share with athletes who often carry more than they show.

That vision became the Mental Edge Journal.

Mental Edge was created to help athletes win from within by providing a safe, intentional space to reflect, reset, and grow mentally. Each journal includes guided writing prompts, weekly planning calendars, affirmations, and stress coping techniques designed to help athletes prepare mentally before and after games, practices, and competitions.

At Mental Edge, we believe developing the mind is just as important as training the body. Confidence is built through awareness. Growth happens through reflection. And true success starts within.