Martin Ali Simms is a pioneering voice in trauma-informed athletics and the founder of The DOPE Coach Academy, where he trains coaches, athletes, and school leaders to integrate neuroscience, nervous system regulation, and social-emotional learning into sports. A Neurosequential Sport Specialist and certified in Neurosomatic Intelligence, Martin blends clinical insight with real-world coaching to help youth heal from trauma and thrive in high-performance environments.
Drawing from lived experience, over 15 years of coaching, and mentorship from Dr. Bruce Perry, Martin developed the D.O.P.E. Framework—Develop, Organize, Process, Engage—to make complex brain-based concepts accessible and actionable for athletes, coaches, and families. His work has reached thousands through professional development trainings, athlete intensives, and national conference presentations, including his breakout session at the 2025 Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools Conference titled Transmuting Trauma to Triumph Using Athletics.
Martin also serves as the creator of “Shoot for a Reason: Free Throws for Free Therapy,” a national fundraising campaign aimed at expanding access to family therapy, trauma-informed training, and community healing through the power of sport.
As a member of the Attachment & Trauma Network’s Board of Directors, Martin brings deep expertise in engaging youth through rhythm, relationship, and routine—anchored in both science and culture. His mission is to elevate the role of coaches, schools, and sport organizations as front-line mental health allies and to build systems that don’t just respond to trauma—but transform it into purpose, performance, and possibility.
