heart first mission & Vision

Our mission is to empower athletes to lead from the heart by integrating mental and emotional well-being with high performance. Through Heart First coaching, we help athletes grow into whole, confident individuals, free from the inside out, so they can compete in sports and life with purpose, freedom, and authenticity.

Our vision is to create the next generation of Heart First leaders who carry the lessons of sport into every arena of life. We envision a world where athletes are known not just for what they achieve but for how they show up with integrity, courage, and connection, transforming their own lives and the lives of those they touch.

MEET Our team

FOUNDER & MASTER COACH

RYAN SAWYER

Ryan is a Former National Champion Collegiate Football Coach turned Mental Strength Coach for Athletes. He played and coached football at Central Washington University before serving as the Defensive Line Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Eastern Washington University from 2008 to 2015.

Since leaving college coaching, Ryan has become a sought-after Mental Strength Coach and Speaker, teaching Mental Toughness and Resilience programs to various organizations, including Club Sports Teams, Universities, First Responders, and other groups.

Coaching Credentials:

Former National Champion College Football Coach
Founder of Heart First Mental Strength Academy
Author of the Books "Choice Point" & "We Can Do Hard Things"
Host of the Heart First Leadership Podcast
Master Coach & Creator: Integrated Mindset & Competitive Edge for Athletes
Certified Unbeatable Mind Coach
Certified Mental Performance Mastery Coach
Certified Kokoro Yoga Instructor
Certified Quantum Living Process Facilitator
Certified Oxygen Advantage Instructor (Breath for Performance)
Certified Meditation and Mindfulness Instructor
Certified Safe Sound Protocol (SSP)
Certified Neuro Coach with Mindset Neuroscience Neurotraining Institute

CERTIFIED COACH

HEIDI SAWYER

Heidi is a seasoned Certified Life Coach, Integrated Mindset, and Competitive Edge Coach dedicated to empowering athletes and high achievers from all walks of life to reach their full potential.

Since 2018, she has helped clients enhance focus, manage time and energy effectively, and align their priorities with their goals. Heidi’s passion lies in helping individuals discover and unlock their untapped potential by fostering a safe, supportive environment for sustained growth and success.

Coaching Credentials:

Certified Unbeatable Mind Coach
Certified Integrated Mindset Coach
Certified Heart First Mental Strength Coach
Certified Organizational Specialist
Certified Quantum Living Facilitator
Certified Neuro Coach with Mindset Neuroscience Neurotraining Institute

CERTIFIED COACH

Cierra Dvorak

Cierra is a mental performance coach dedicated to helping athletes achieve peak performance, find fulfillment, and build a resilient, purpose-driven mindset.

As a former collegiate athlete, she overcame challenges, discovered her purpose, and developed skills to find joy in both sports and life. Her coaching fosters a supportive environment, empowering athletes to identify strengths, address weaknesses, and grow into their best selves while overcoming mental barriers and building confidence.

Coaching Credentials:

Certified Heart First Mental Strength Coach (Independent Contractor)
Master's Kinasiology with a Sports Performance Concentrate, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Bachelor's Psychology, College of Idaho

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CERTIFIED COACH

Ty Graham

Ty is a mental strength and performance coach passionate about helping athletes, coaches, parents, and business leaders become the best version of themselves. He is driven by a Heart-First mindset and believes that true success comes from growth without attachment to outcomes, focusing instead on intention, purpose, and service to others.

With a lifelong background in athletics, Ty was raised in a football family, his father a collegiate coach for over 20 years. He went on to play Division 1 football at the University of Idaho and Eastern Washington University, and now gives back to the game by coaching at his alma mater, Cheney HS. These experiences have shaped his deep understanding of leadership, resilience, and the power of mindset.

Ty’s coaching philosophy centers on servant leadership, personal development, and empowering individuals to pursue goals that create a positive impact far beyond themselves. He believes that to lead and perform at our highest level - on the field, at work, or in life - we must first invest in what drives that performance. OUR MINDS!

Coaching Credentials:

Certified Heart First Mental Strength Coach (Independent Contractor)
MBA Eastern Washington University

PROGRAM CONTRIBUTOR

STEFANIE FAYE

Stefanie Faye is a world-renowned neuroscience expert who works with large organizations such as MIT, Google, the FBI, Stanford, and Northwestern University, as well as with non-profits, coaches, consultants and educators all over the world.

Her graduate studies from New York University focused on self-directed neuroplasticity, self-regulation, and empathy. She has expertise in brain mapping (qEEG), heart rate variability, and other neurophysiological measurements that are used to guide people’s journeys of transformation and overall well-being. She combines all of that with mindfulness training in monasteries and from meditation masters from India, Vietnam and Africa.