Abby Minihan

Founder

BA in Sports Management
M Ed in Human Resource Development
A 4-year letter winner, captain at the University of Michigan
Big Ten Soccer Player of the Year
All-American
Professional soccer player: Atlanta Beat/Boston Breakers
15 years Licensed Soccer Coach with United Coaches
Inducted into the University of Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022
Currently working on MS Degree in Applied Psychology - Industrial Organizational Psychology focus (2025)

Why did you create Inkwell Sports Solutions?

Imagine an 18-year-old girl who has just received the phone call of her dreams: she has been invited to play soccer with the United States Women’s National Team!

She has worked hard to get this invitation - countless hours of practice, pushing herself to improve each time, and many hours traveling to and from games.

But instead of feeling happy, honored, and excited, she felt fearful, anxious, and terrified! Being on that national stage was too much for her to handle. She felt that other athletes were better equipped than her.

So, she made up her mind. She wasn’t going to accept the invitation. She decided to give up on her dreams because she was overwhelmed by the idea of all the pressure she could experience.

That girl was me. Despite all my success, I didn’t have the knowledge, tools, or mentorship to work through my lack of self-confidence. I didn’t realize that there were faulty ways of thinking that had sabotaged my success.

That is why I built Inkwell Sports Solutions. To help athletes and coaches perform and lead from their unique identity without losing their identity. I saw how I missed key opportunities. I don’t want anyone else to miss out on theirs.

Why is this lack of training a big deal?

Most coaches are not provided with adequate leadership training because they are assumed to have these skills. I want Inkwell Sports Solutions to provide the training needed to support the success of all involved in the Athletic environment.

What positive changes do you hope to see in the next five years?

I see the synergy between athletes, coaches, and senior staff to create a high trust and learning environment—an environment that is focused on relationships and not only results.

I want to see coaches consistently trained in researched leadership principles that are applicable, not just for winning games or when something goes wrong. I want training to be more than a check in the box but a sustainable practice of those principles and skills.

I want yearly leadership audits so coaches can continue to develop and learn alongside their peers and practice what they preach.

I want to see a “learning champion” senior staff member, within each athletic department, responsible for the sustainability of the educational development of student-athletes, coaches, and administrative peers.

I want holistic treatment and care for athletes carried out by the coaches but initiated by athletic departments/associations.

According to Clifton Strengths®, what are your Top Five Talents?

Learner
Input
Responsibility
Individualization
Relator