April 2025 Edition
Nick Saban & Dr. Brian Hainline on Mental Health in College Sports
Hi everyone,
In this milestone episode of Athletes OnBalance, I am honored to sit down with two of the most influential figures in collegiate athletics: legendary former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, and former NCAA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Hainline. Together, they discuss the critical role of mental health in athlete development, the power of culture in shaping process leading to outcomes, and the importance of treating mental wellness with the same importance as physical injuries. Coach Saban reflects on decades of using psychological strategies to develop talent, while Dr. Hainline shares how data and science are redefining mental health care in sports. Whether you're a coach, athletic leader, sports medicine professional, or mental health care provider, this enlightening conversation offers meaningful insights into treating student-athletes holistically. Enjoy!
Be well.
Walt Norley
OnBalance Founder & CEO
Click to learn more about OnBalance.
March 2025 Edition
Villanova University’s Father Rob Hagan joins the Athletes OnBalance Leadership Council
Father Robert P. Hagan, O.S.A. and Former Villanova
Men's Basketball Head Coach, Jay Wright
Faith as a form of seeking mental strength and spiritual guidance has existed in athletics since the original Olympics in Greece. Today, in collegiate athletics, faith-based care continues to guide student-athletes in their journey to manage the high pressures of performance, academics, social media, and the additives of NIL and the transfer portal. Mainstream media has highlighted the recent success of programs like Ohio State’s football team coming together through shared team faith after a devastating loss to Michigan and then going on a remarkable four-game playoff winning streak that resulted in a National Championship. Selfishness and self-doubt were replaced with a shared mentality of “we are in this together,” creating a bond rooted in faith.
Enter Villanova University’s Father Robert P. Hagan, better known as Father Rob, a difference-maker in collegiate athletics, and in students’ lives. Officially, Father Rob currently serves as the 41st Prior Provincial at the Augustinian Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, in addition to Team Chaplain for the Villanova University Men’s Basketball and Football teams. He leads the East Coast Augustinian Province and Villanova’s athletes with the Augustinian values of Truth, Unity, and Love and the motto, “Each of us strengthens all of us.”
Unofficially, Father Rob is a familiar face on campus who impacts the daily well-being of students and student-athletes as they navigate the challenges facing 17-to 22-year-olds at Villanova. At one point, he oversaw the Sports Medicine and Strength & Conditioning programs, developing an understanding of the intersection of mind, body, and performance. Clearly, he is a special leader and someone we would all want our sons or daughters to interact with if needed.
“OnBalance is clearly ahead of the curve in recognizing the use of data converted to intelligence in assisting student-athletes with their well-being physically, mentally, and spiritually. I am excited to be part of the team and their mission to help all people reach their utmost potential!” said Father Rob Hagan.
Our motto at OnBalance is Peter Drucker’s “You cannot manage what you don’t measure.” With the intention of measuring care program outcomes that include faith as an element of treatment, we will be including this option for athletic department counselors. Additionally, we will provide faith-based content in our Knowledge Center, with inclusion of religions represented in collegiate athletics, and feature discussions on our podcast program with athletes, coaches, priests, rabbis, and the values of faith as a form of mental health and well-being.
We are proud and honored to have Father Rob on our burgeoning Leadership Council and look forward to defining the values faith can provide to students and student-athletes across the country.
Be well.
Walt Norley
OnBalance Founder & CEO
If you're interested in learning more about the Leadership Council and discussing membership qualifications, please send us an email or set up a call with our team.
About OnBalance
OnBalance is an AI-driven intelligence platform transforming mental healthcare management in collegiate athletics. Founded by a former Division I quarterback and designed in collaboration with a leading behavioral specialist in collegiate athletics, OnBalance converts data into actionable insights for proactive care management, helping athletic departments optimize athlete performance, improve outcomes, and enhance institutional accountability. Developed in partnership with the University of Alabama, OnBalance launched Gen 1.0 in 2024 following a successful pilot program. The platform leverages AI-powered scoring, predictive analytics, and case performance trends to help student-athletes recover and return to competition sooner—all while ensuring privacy and institutional risk mitigation.
FEBRUARY 2025 Edition: Special Announcement
Welcome Dr. Brian Hainline to our Athletes OnBalance Leadership Council
Dr. Brian Hainline
Former Chief Medical Officer, NCAA
Professor of Neurology, NYU Langone Medical Center
Our Athletes OnBalance Leadership Council is honored to announce Dr. Brian Hainline has joined as an Executive Member. As many of you know, Dr. Hainline is a globally recognized and transformative leader in sports medicine, and true pioneer in collegiate athletics, as the NCAA’s first Chief Medical Officer from 2013-2024. Brian was the driving force behind the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium, the largest concussion and head impact study in the world. Under Brian’s leadership, the NCAA Consensus Statement on Mental Health Best Practices was introduced in 2014, with the most recent update issued in 2024.
As a Leadership Council member and advisor, Brian will work collaboratively with OnBalance Chief Mental Health Officer Dr. Ginger Gilmore, university sports medicine members, and innovative leaders from the entire collegiate athletic ecosystem. Together, they will leverage OnBalance, an AI-driven mental healthcare intelligence platform, to drive predictive return-to-play outcomes, optimize athletic performance, and enhance institutional accountability.
“OnBalance is creating a mental health platform that will change the way we think about returning to sport following a mental health condition. Injury, illness, and mental health can be better measured so we can develop predictive models of care and performance. I feel honored and excited to be part of OnBalance's team,” said Dr. Brian Hainline.
Brian’s vast and deep understanding of the challenges student-athletes face in collegiate athletics, and his commitment to improving their mental health care through preventive management realized by insightful data, exemplify the Leadership Council mission. Welcome Brian!
Be well.
Walt Norley
OnBalance Founder & CEO
Learn More About Dr. Hainline
Dr. Brian Hainline is a globally recognized leader in sports medicine and athlete mental health. As the NCAA’s first Chief Medical Officer (2013–2024), he transformed collegiate sports' approach to mental health, concussion research, and athlete safety. He was the driving force behind the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium, the largest concussion and head impact study in the world.
Brian is a Clinical Professor of Neurology at NYU Langone Medical Center, the immediate past president of the USTA, and current Vice President of the ITF. Dr. Hainline has shaped global mental health standards in sports, co-chairing the International Olympic Committee’s consensus meetings on elite athlete mental health. His extensive research and policy work have redefined how institutions support student-athletes' mental and neurological well-being.
Brian is a former standout student-athlete tennis player at the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a Bachelor's degree. Dr. Hainline received his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.
If you're interested in learning more about the Leadership Council and discussing membership qualifications, please send us an email or set up a call with our team.
About OnBalance
OnBalance is an AI-driven intelligence platform transforming mental healthcare management in collegiate athletics. Founded by a former Division I quarterback and designed in collaboration with a leading behavioral specialist in collegiate athletics, OnBalance converts data into actionable insights for proactive care management, helping athletic departments optimize athlete performance, improve outcomes, and enhance institutional accountability. Developed in partnership with the University of Alabama, OnBalance launched Gen 1.0 in 2024 following a successful pilot program. The platform leverages AI-powered scoring, predictive analytics, and case performance trends to help student-athletes recover and return to competition sooner—all while ensuring privacy and institutional risk mitigation.
FEBRUARY 2025 Edition
University of Louisville Athletics Joins Athletes OnBalance Leadership Council
Our Athletes OnBalance Leadership Council is proud to welcome our newest member, the University of Louisville’s athletics department. We are excited to work with Louisville’s Health and Performance team as they take the next step in their holistic and integrated healthcare of Louisville’s student-athletes. They "walk the talk" as they say, in using data to intersect physical, mental, and behavioral health for optimizing athletic performance.
“At Louisville Athletics, we pride ourselves on being leaders in the industry, not only in performance but in how we support our student-athletes holistically,” said Dr. Pat Ivey, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Health and Performance at the University of Louisville. “This partnership with OnBalance provides our care teams with the intelligence they need to deliver first class care to our athletes. It also reinforces our commitment to their mental health and wellbeing, ensuring they excel both on and off the field.”
The Leadership Council’s mission is to provide mental healthcare management teams and the eco-system of patient care, measurable care metrics from AI intelligence through the OnBalance platform, resulting in improved care outcomes.
Dr. Ginger Gilmore, the former Assistant Athletic Director, Behavioral Health and Wellness, at University of Alabama, and now Chief Mental Health Officer atOnBalance will lead the Athletes OnBalance Leadership Council. Dr. Gilmore’s work at Alabama was transformative in building one the leading behavioral health programs in the NCAA, working closely with Nick Saban’s football program before expanded mental health resources to all athletic teams.
Disruption to improve outcomes in every industry, including healthcare, requires innovative individuals and entities who can visualize what the future needs. In today’s complex collegiate athletic environment, it is essential for student-athletes to have access to proactive mental healthcare. Progressive thought leadership understands, “You can't manage, what you don’t measure.”
We look forward to developing the future with Louisville and our current members. Please let us know if you would like to learn more about membership and criteria to join.
Be well.
Walt Norley
OnBalance Founder & CEO
If you're interested in learning more about the Leadership Council and discussing membership qualifications, please send us an email or set up a call with our team.
December 2024 Edition
Welcome to the team, Dr. Gilmore!
After almost 30 years with the University of Alabama, and most recently as Assistant Athletic Director Behavioral Health and Wellness, we are proud to announce Dr. Ginger Gilmore has joined OnBalance as Chief Mental Health Officer. Following the admirable work at Alabama helping thousands of athletes through difficult times, Dr. Gilmore will now combine her knowledge of mental healthcare management in collegiate athletics with how data converted to intelligence can improve outcomes. This new journey will now allow Ginger to help student-athletes in every conference and division across the NCAA.
In 2007, Alabama’s coach Nick Saban tapped Ginger Gilmore on the shoulder to build a world class mental/behavioral health program for his football team. While rolling out her program to all 17 Alabama teams, the football program went on to win six national championships and eight SEC championships. Former NCAA Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Brian Hainline, determined that Dr. Gilmore developed and managed one of the premier programs in the NCAA. Do we need any further proof on the correlation between expected performance and an athletes’ mental health?
The statement that life sometimes comes full circle is certainly true for Dr. Gilmore and me. I was introduced to her through Coach Saban in late 2022 to collaborate on enhancing her program. Together, we worked on the development of a metrics-based software operating program dedicated to improving mental healthcare management through intelligence. This development began as my initial concept, and with Dr. Gilmore’s expertise, it evolved into the development and release of our Gen 1.0 solution. Because of this foundational collaboration less than two years ago, OnBalance is poised to introduce AI technology to provide trends, patterns, and predictors in a student-athlete’s care case.
With this reunion, Dr. Gilmore and the OnBalance team can lead this industry into the next era of mental healthcare management. We are excited for all those who believe proactive management will make a difference in getting student-athletes healthy and back into competition at expected performance levels.
Be well,
Walt Norley
OnBalance Founder & CEO
Highest diagnosed disorder types by team?
Highest diagnosed disorder types by season?
September 2024 Edition
Since entering into collegiate athletics through mental healthcare technology in 2022, I have asked numerous collegiate athletic directors “what keeps you up at night?” Without hesitancy, they consistently respond with “the 3am phone call.” The answer does not need further definition, I know what they mean…a student-athlete has taken their life.
September is Suicide Prevention Month. Per a recent study conducted by the British Journal of Sports Medicine, suicides for U.S. college athletes have doubled in the past 20 years. Pressures have never been greater in today’s collegiate athletic environment with 17-22 year olds navigating the never ending growth of social media bullying, unregulated NIL dynamics, legalized gambling, and a Wild West like transfer portal. Pretty gloomy stuff.
Enter Hope in the form of Hilinski’s Hope. Two remarkable human beings have made it their life mission to travel throughout the NCAA to provide awareness and education on the growing mental health crisis, and in the process, possibly preventing a suicide. Mark and Kym Hilinski lost their son Tyler to suicide in 2018. A star quarterback at Washington State, who had once been carried off the field by his teammates after a big win, and without any warning signs from friends, teammates, and his close-knit family, tragically took his life. With unimaginable pain in their hearts, Mark and Kym have devoted their lives to sharing their very personal story, for the purpose of educating the echo-system within collegiate athletics the importance of providing the same level of knowledge on mental health care needs as an athlete’s physical well- being. As Mark states in our recent Athlete’s OnBalance podcast, “mental health is health.”
The NCAA community is blessed to have Mark and Kym Hilinski, and the Hilinski Hope foundation. Let’s embrace their mission and prevent the 3am phone call.
Be well,
Walt Norley
OnBalance Founder & CEO
Suicide Prevention Month
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
988 offers 24/7 judgment-free support for mental health, substance use, and more.
Athletes OnBalance
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: In this powerful episode of Athletes OnBalance, Mark and Kym Hilinski share how the tragic loss of their son, Tyler, inspired their mission to reduce the stigma around mental health in sports. Through Hilinski's Hope, they advocate for mental health awareness, education, and early intervention in the athletic community. Tune in as we discuss the importance of proactive mental health care, supportive coaching, and fostering an environment where mental health is prioritized just like physical health.
July 2024 Edition
For those who missed it, last week Nick Saban was the well-deserved recipient of the ESPY’s Icon Award. His acceptance speech should be shown at every elementary school, junior high, high school, and college across the country. Over and over again. It was not about his record National championships or SEC championships. His message was about the appreciation and gratitude he has for all his thousands of players, numerous coaches, the football program ecosystem, and his family, that made all of his successes a reality. The “we” word was most prevalent, and the “I” word was scarce.
There are very few iconic coaches that have been revered in all sports, and at every level. Nick's acceptance speech provided some of the key ingredients in his recipe that placed him on the coaching Mount Rushmore, and likely surprised some people in the audience who have seen his extreme intensity on the sidelines. This "old school" coach spoke to compassion for other people and “instead of asking someone ‘how are you’, ask ‘who have you helped today.” If this is old school then every new school coach needs to convert!
On a personal level, I am grateful to Coach Saban for providing me, and our OnBalance team, the opportunity to develop an intelligence platform to improve mental health care management in college athletics through technology. His progressive mentality in treating the athletes’ mental health equally to physical health, is a testament to his understanding that you cannot separate the mind from the body. This is a topic he discusses in our Athletes OnBalance podcast, found at the bottom of this newsletter.
Nick Saban exemplifies that winning does not mean sacrificing what is most important in life. Civility, sportsmanship, winning and losing with grace, and the emphasis of maintaining these values as his players move on beyond their days on the field. I recently joined Nick and two of his former players for a round of golf. My strongest post-round impressions were the camaraderie he shares with his former players and the humble mannerisms of these former star Alabama players. I witnessed a glimpse into the outcome of his famous process in developing the athlete and the human being holistically. Pretty cool.
On the heels of the violent incident over the weekend in our country's political arena that is fueled by an extreme divisiveness, it is refreshing to know there are leaders who have influenced a countless number of people, and believe society's core values should be to “help someone and bring people together.”
Thanks for your contribution to our society, Coach. We will miss your leadership.
Be well.
Walt Norley
OnBalance Founder & CEO
In The News
Hear from former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban as he accepts the Icon Award at the 2024 ESPYS. Video credit: ESPN College Football
Athletes OnBalance
In Case You Missed It: In this episode, Walt was joined by Nick Saban, Former Head Coach for the University of Alabama Football Team. Coach Saban, a seven-time national champion and advocate for athletes' mental health, discusses the crucial link between physical ability and mental approach. He shares insights on individualized support, finding the right people to help athletes excel, and the importance of goal orientation and self-discipline.
Do You Know?
How your providers are performing? Who has the most resolved caseload?
OnBalance: The intelligence platform for mental health care management in college athletics.
June 2024 Edition
To paraphrase Socrates, “strong minds discuss ideas and solutions, good minds discuss events, and weak minds discuss people.” Some people like to talk about the need for improving mental health care management in college athletes, especially during the annual May Mental Health Awareness Month. Dr. Brian Hainline, the recently retired NCAA Chief Medical Officer, exemplifies “strong minds.”
As the first Chief Medical Officer at the NCAA, and first in all U.S. sports governing bodies, he pioneered numerous initiatives to improve the physical safety in college sports, specifically with new concussion protocols and concussion recovery treatment, utilizing science and studies for validation. In parallel to this enormous undertaking, he met and listened to the National Student Athlete Advisory Committee, who made a cry for help for mental health care resources and programs within athletic departments. Moving from ideas to solutions, under his leadership, they released the NCAA Inter-Association Consensus Document: Best Practices for Understanding and Supporting Student-Athlete Mental Wellness. This provided member schools with recommendations for supporting and promoting student-athlete mental health and well-being.
Dr. Hainline continued his commitment to dramatically restructure mental health care management in the NCAA. “Jumping on roller skates,” he traveled the country meeting with university leadership to discuss problems and solutions. There is that word again…solutions. This led to the second edition of Mental Health Best Practices: Understanding and Supporting Student-Athlete Mental Health, which legislatively required schools to have a dedicated mental/behavioral health team and resources for student-athletes.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Hainline on our Athletes OnBalance podcast and loved his laser focus attitude towards his mission from 2013-2024. He mentioned progressive mental health leaders in college athletes like former Alabama Football Head Coach Nick Saban, who wanted to know everything there was to know about sleep issues, its impact on an athlete’s performance, and solutions to remedy. Again, that word…solutions.
Thanks Dr. Hainline for the great work over your tenure. The NCAA was certainly blessed to have a “strong mind” as their Chief Medical Officer for the last 11 years. Wishing you well in your next chapter.
Be well.
Walt Norley
OnBalance Founder & CEO
Athletes OnBalance
In this episode of Athletes OnBalance Dr. Brian Hainline, Chief Medical Officer of the NCAA, explores the connections between brain health, physical, and mental health in student-athletes. Dr. Hainline discusses his initiatives to lead the development of effective concussion management protocols, the link between sleep and mental health disorders, and the importance of treating the mind and body as one.
Do You Know?
The average length of time it takes to resolve a case by severity level? How the average resolution time varies between different severity levels?
With OnBalance, you can gain insights into this type of intelligence.
May 2024 Edition
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting HELLO to 741741.
Apologies in advance for this long opening letter. However, the subject matter is serious, it has complexities and warrants my time to write it, and hopefully you will find some time to read it.
This May, and every May since 1949, is Mental Health Awareness Month. Once again, numerous entities, including universities across the country, push out messages on websites, social media, and offer on-campus programs to further the dialogue around the crisis that is going on in America’s collegiate athletic mental health world. You will read below a recent study conducted by the British Journal of Sports Medicine that CNN consolidated, stating suicides for U.S. college athletes has doubled in the past 20 years. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among collegiate student-athletes. There are currently at least 12 lawsuits within collegiate athletics stemming from a suicidal tragedy. These liability lawsuits from the families of the sons or daughters who committed suicide, are $10 million on the low end, and reportedly up to $50 million on the high end.
Do we need an emergency alarm to be any louder for our state and private universities to immediately take greater actions to prevent these continued tragedies?
The business world that I live in is about solving problems with solutions that create long term sustainable values. The solution for this problem is ongoing, proactive management of mental healthcare for student-athletes versus the current reactive management programs that exist at most universities. Today, most take the "older school" approach in providing more counselor resources within the athletic department and a nice EMR database program to store the data. I agree this solution is certainly better than having a limited amount of counseling with expertise dedicated to the unique needs of student-athletes. However, the programs remain acute based with continued reactive management.
Technology has improved our lives in countless ways over the decades, and specifically in the medical and healthcare markets. It is time for the leaders in college athletics to accept that proactive management in mental healthcare can only come from data converted into intelligence. Technology driven by AI has arrived to disrupt the status quo mentality, with the ability to grab key performance indictors that lead to trends, predictions, and ultimately prevention.
Mental health awareness and discussions on solutions should not be limited to the month of May. Change, and disruptive efforts for improved care needs to be a 365 day a year topic, and with a modern view of accepting technology as a viable means to improve the quality of care for collegiate student-athletes.
The fire alarm grows louder by the day. Time to jump aboard the Proactive Express Train.
Be well.
Walt Norley
OnBalance Founder & CEO
IN THE NEWS
Do You Know?
When an athletes illness case is trending poorly? Do you receive notifications to prevent a negative outcome?
With OnBalance, you can gain insights into this type of intelligence.
February 2024 Edition
A recent segment on Good Morning America highlighted three elite Black athletes in different sports speaking to their own mental health challenges.
We all watch and marvel at the amazing athletes from various sports, genders, and race perform these surreal feats in competition week in and week out. They all appear confident, physically strong, and invulnerable. This is also assumed to be the case for all genders and race. The reality is these “invulnerable” athletes are vulnerable human beings, and that there are greater challenges within certain communities in discussing a mental health issue.
A recent segment on Good Morning America, with Michael Strahan hosting, highlighted three elite Black athletes in different sports speaking to their own mental health challenges, the extreme sensitivity of acknowledging their struggles, and hesitancy in seeking treatment due to the negative stigma within the Black community.
Solomon Thomas, a star defensive end for the NY Jets, speaks to the loneliness he felt as he entered a depression after his sister committed suicide. Karl Anthony Towns, a star NBA center for the Minnesota Timberwolves, describes how the world went silent for him after losing his mother, and Anna Cockrell, a champion track sprinter and hurdler, had her initial experience with depression in her junior year at USC and did not understand what she was experiencing.
Michael Strahan discussed mental health in the Black community with three Black athletes.
What they all have in common is overcoming the generational stigma associated with mental health in the Black community - where it has historically been “shameful” to admit a mental health “weakness.” As you will hear, fortunately a new era has arrived and these three athletes, as well as other Black athletes are coming forward and openly discussing it is ok to admit to a mental health challenge and be in treatment.
In our Athletes OnBalance podcast, Jimmy Johns, a former running back at Alabama, speaks to the black community he grew up in, and Black men looking at any discussion of mental health challenges as a sign of weakness.
These are leaders in the Black community, and in every community, speaking out to help others, and eliminate the terrible stigma that has been associated with mental health.
I hope you enjoy listening and learning about their stories.
Be well.
Walt Norley
OnBalance Founder & CEO
Athletes onbalance
Jimmy Johns, former University of Alabama Football player, shares his perspective on battling the extreme stigma, within the black community, associated with mental health. To listen in full or check out more episodes, visit our website.
In Case You Missed It: Walt Norley, OnBalance Founder and CEO, joined the most recent episode of Athletes OnBalance as the guest on January's podcast, with special host Dr. Ginger Gilmore, Director of Behavioral Medicine at the University of Alabama. Walt talks about his experience as a student athlete, his struggle to accept having a mental health disorder and how he learned to manage it, and the reason he launched OnBalance. His episode is also available on YouTube and across streaming platforms.
January 2024 Special Edition: From QB to CEO and Mental Health Advocate
Dr. Ginger Gilmore had the opportunity to guest host the podcast and interview someone she’s come to admire tremendously: Walt Norley, founder and CEO of OnBalance.
I’m excited to be able to share the launch of Season 2 of Athletes OnBalance, a podcast on mental health and sports.
This episode is very special to me, as I had the opportunity to guest host the podcast and interview someone I’ve come to admire tremendously: Walt Norley, founder and CEO of OnBalance.
I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Walt in developing the OnBalance platform. From the beginning, I’ve been most impressed by his passion. He genuinely cares about student athletes, and understands the mental component in performance and recovery…because he has lived it.
In this episode, Walt talks about his journey with bipolar disorder, and his path from injured quarterback to successful technology entrepreneur.
I hope you’ll give it a listen.
Although we compete on the field, I know we’re together in wanting the best possible care for student athletes. The NCAA survey shows we have a lot of work to do…but I am hopeful when I hear stories like Walt’s and see more organizations understanding that physical and mental health go hand-in-hand in performance and recovery.
Thanks for all you do for students.
Best,
Dr. Ginger Gilmore
P.S. If you’d like to learn more about the OnBalance platform, you can email me or Walt directly.
Special Edition: Happy Holidays from OnBalance!
As we reflect on 2023, we have so much to be grateful for at OnBalance. The company continues growing and we have made incredible strides with our platform throughout the year.
As we reflect on 2023, we have so much to be grateful for at OnBalance. The company continues growing and we have made incredible strides with our platform throughout the year. We also enjoyed a successful first season of our podcast, Athletes OnBalance.
I’d be remiss if I did not express my genuine appreciation to all our guests of Athletes OnBalance. Each guest helped elevate the awareness of our mission for improved mental healthcare through public discussion. In their own respective ways, all these individuals are true mental health advocates who continually destigmatize mental health in sports: Nick Saban (Head Football Coach, University of Alabama), Dan Radakovich (Director of Athletics, University of Miami), Julie Kliegman (Copy Chief, Sports Illustrated), Dr. Ginger Gilmore (Director of Behavioral Health, University of Alabama), Jimmy Johns (Former Football Player, University of Alabama), Dr. Katie O’Neal (Chief Medical Advisor, Southeastern Conference) and Cailin Bracken (Lacrosse Player, Vanderbilt University). And special thanks to our followers – hopefully you have found value and inspiration in these conversations.
As we gear up for 2024, take a look at some 2023 highlights from Athletes OnBalance in the video below. We look forward to hosting more great guests in the year ahead.
On behalf of everyone here at OnBalance, I wish you and your loved ones a safe and healthy holiday season.
Happy Holidays!
Walt Norley
OnBalance Founder & CEO
December 2023 Special Edition: Coach Saban - 2023 SEC Champ & Mental Health Advocate
After the Crimson Tide’s win over No. 1 ranked Georgia in the SEC championship game on Saturday, there is no debating that Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban is the GOAT in college football.
After the Crimson Tide’s win over No. 1 ranked Georgia in the SEC championship game on Saturday, there is no debating that Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban is the GOAT in college football.
Saban’s continued success during his tenure at the University of Alabama is remarkable. Beyond all the victories and championships, Coach Saban has always prioritized the mental health of his players. His coaching philosophy underscores that mental resilience is not only supported but a strategic necessity for sustained excellence, emphasizing the integral link between mental well-being and athletic performance.
When Coach Saban joined me on an episode of the Athletes OnBalance podcast, he discussed individualized approaches to helping athletes based on their specific needs, finding the right people to help athletes be the best version of themselves and the importance of being goal-oriented and self-disciplined. You can watch the full episode below.
If you enjoyed this episode, stay tuned for future episodes of the podcast where we talk to athletes, coaches, mental health experts and industry leaders about the importance of mental health care in athletics. At OnBalance, it is our ongoing commitment to end the stigma and bring greater awareness to mental health in sports.
Be well.
Walt Norley
OnBalance Founder & CEO
November 2023 Edition
On our latest Athletes OnBalance podcast, I had the opportunity to speak with Julie Kliegman at Sports Illustrated. Julie is one of the media’s leading voices on athlete mental health.
On our latest Athletes OnBalance podcast, I had the opportunity to speak with Julie Kliegman at Sports Illustrated. Julie is one of the media’s leading voices on athlete mental health, and she has interviewed top athletes and studied their mental health challenges and performance optimization techniques.
In our conversation, Julie emphasizes the importance of breaking down the stigma that still surrounds mental health. Although the environment has improved — especially for ‘proven performers’ like Simone Biles, Kevin Love and Michael Phelps — we know that many athletes do not have the same support systems as these superstars.
Doing our part to end the stigma has always been one of our goals at OnBalance — not only through software, but also through advocacy and honest conversations. I want to personally thank the athletes who’ve spoken up or supported their teammates, and the innovative and empathetic coaches, ADs, and organizational leaders who’ve chosen to prioritize athlete mental health.
Be well.
Walt Norley
OnBalance Founder & CEO
In The News
The gold medal skier and the eating disorder that hasn’t gone away
The Washington Post - October 18, 2023
Dan Hurley Opens Up About His Mental Health: 'There is No F-----g Shame in It'
The Messenger - November 9, 2023
Athletes Onbalance
Julie Kliegman, Copy Chief at Sports Illustrated, joins the latest episode of Athletes OnBalance. Her book, Mind Game: An Inside Look at the Mental Health Playbook of Elite Athletes, will be released in March 2024. To listen in full or check out more episodes, visit our website.
ICYMI: Dan Radakovich, Director of Athletics at the University of Miami, was our guest on October's podcast. Dan is widely regarded as one of the most successful and innovative leaders in the industry. His episode is also available on YouTube and across streaming platforms.
Onbalance News
OnBalance has developed a proprietary system to evaluate athletes' mental health. Weighted quantitative and qualitative assessment components determine each athlete's unique OnBalance Score. Consented care providers can see an “at a glance” dashboard of athlete scores, sortable by severity levels.
OnBalance welcomes John Brody, former Chief Revenue Officer at IMG/LEARFIELD, as a senior advisor on the company's advisory board.
Check out the latest on our website and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter/X and Instagram for updates. OnBalance is the mental health care and performance management platform for athletics. To better protect your athletes from tragedy, you must be proactive. Contact us to learn how we can help.
October 2023 Edition
Historically the sports community did not always have mental health advocates. Fortunately today, we do. This month, I wanted to focus on Drew Robinson, who has become an inspiration to so many.
Historically the sports community did not always have mental health advocates. Fortunately today, we do. This month, I wanted to focus on Drew Robinson, who after his near tragic experience has become an inspiration to so many.
Drew, a former MLB player, now serves as a mental health advocate for the San Francisco Giants. In April 2020, he attempted suicide. He lost his right eye from the incident, but he miraculously survived. Since then, Drew has publicly shared his story in an effort to help others who are suffering in silence like he once did.
His explanation about wanting a part of your life to end compared to wanting your life to end is powerful. It’s such a profound concept when considering someone’s mental health struggles.
Drew’s perspective on perfectionism is spot on. We need to accept that being perfect in any endeavor is not realistic.
Read more about what Drew shared in his recent interview with Esquire. His willingness to open up and be vulnerable in interviews like this one is commendable. I have great respect for the work he is doing with the Giants organization and the mental health community.
Be well.
Walt Norley
OnBalance Founder & CEO
Athletes onbalance
Check out our podcast, Athletes OnBalance, where we hear from top athletes, coaches and experts discuss and destigmatize mental health in sports. Below is a clip from our latest episode featuring Dr. Katie O'Neal, Chief Medical Advisor for the Southeastern Conference (SEC). For more episodes and to listen to the full episode with Dr. O'Neal, visit our website.
Onbalance News
OnBalance has expanded its roster. We are excited to welcome Mike Todd (Chief Operating Officer), Terri Reese (Director of Customer Success) and Jenna Steinbrink (Director of Operations) to our operational team.
Job posting! We are looking for an experienced and dedicated mental and behavioral health professional within collegiate athletics to add to our roster as Director of Health & Wellness. For more information, click here.
OnBalance is the mental health care and performance management platform for athletics. If you want to better protect your athletes from tragedy, OnBalance can help.
September 2023 Edition
The parents of four high-achieving student-athletes are now courageously speaking out to help other parents, student-athletes, and everyone in the ecosystem of collegiate athletics.
“A pain that does not go away.”
“Katie was radiant and brilliant.” Katie Meyer was a star soccer player and team captain at Stanford. She died by suicide in 2022.
“Arlana was so talented. She could do anything.” Arlana Miller was a star cheerleader at Southern University. She died by suicide in 2022.
“Morgan was a rock star, charismatic and a win the room over personality.” Morgan Rodgers was a lacrosse star at Duke. She died by suicide in 2019.
“Tyler was awesome and was just one of those likeable guys.” Tyler Hilinski was a star quarterback at Washington St. He died by suicide in 2018.
These are statements made by the parents of four high-achieving student-athletes who are now courageously speaking out to help other parents, student-athletes, and everyone in the ecosystem of collegiate athletics. All four student-athletes came from loving and caring homes, and they were talented in both athletics and academics. They all had everything going for them…until it was too difficult to live on. What happened?
College athletes are uniquely driven in striving for perfection. They have high expectations of themselves, and they know others have high expectations of them as well. Up at 6 a.m. for “first practice,” followed by classes, followed sometimes by another practice, and then studying into the night. This is an everyday itinerary, and in most sports throughout the entire year (into the summer for some). It’s a grind for any age, and especially for 17 to 22-year-olds that are away from home.
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for college students. A recent NCAA study showed the rates of mental exhaustion, anxiety, and depression are two times greater since the pandemic. Studies also show that those who strive for perfection are less reluctant to seek help. Social media has exasperated the pressures student-athletes feel through peer group negativity and constant performance judgement.
Competitive, strong-minded people do not like to show or admit weakness. Morgan’s mom said there were no “red flags,” and she was in counseling. Katie, Arlana, Morgan and Tyler all suffered in silence.
What’s the solution for other student-athletes suffering in silence today? The list for resolution is long, though first, universities and athletic departments must understand the severity of this issue and provide meaningful counseling resources dedicated to student-athletes. Second, modern coaches and trainers need to be properly educated on mental health, and understand the fine line between pushing through, and pausing to get treatment…without judgement.
This is a heartbreaking story for everyone. However, open discussions and heightened awareness lead to improved mental health knowledge. The outcome we seek in awareness is to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness, or challenges, and help those in need seek help without fear of judgement.
Let’s work to treat those suffering in silence.
Be well.
Walt Norley
OnBalance Founder & CEO
September is National Suicide Prevention Month and this week (9/10-16) is National Suicide Prevention Week. At OnBalance, we pledge our support for this initiative.
OnBalance is the mental health care and performance management platform for athletics. If you want to better protect your athletes from tragedy, OnBalance can help.
In The News
Sha’Carri Richardson storms to 100m gold in stunning redemption tale
“I always say never give up.”
The Guardian - Aug. 21, 2023
Athletes Onbalance
Check out our podcast, Athletes OnBalance, where we hear from top athletes, coaches and experts discussing and destigmatizing mental health in sports. Don't miss this clip from our latest episode below featuring Cailin Bracken from Vanderbilt University. For more episodes and to listen to the full episode with Cailin, visit our website.
To learn more about OnBalance, or if you have interest in scheduling a demo, visit us here.
August 2023 Edition
Athlete mental health continues to make the news, as seen in our monthly roundup. I wanted to highlight one mental health journey in particular. It's a story I find inspirational.
Athlete mental health continues to make the news, as seen in our monthly roundup. I wanted to highlight one mental health journey in particular. It's a story I find inspirational.
Cailin Bracken, a women's lacrosse player at Vanderbilt University, battled mental health challenges and stepped away to focus on her mental health during her freshman year.
I applaud Cailin for recognizing that she needed help – that is one of the most difficult things when you are dealing with a mental health struggle.
With all the pressure that comes with being a student athlete, she chose to take time to address what is most important – her mental health. It's commendable that she prioritized her mental health over competition, especially during her first year at Vanderbilt. This is a powerful example of strength, not weakness.
After her own journey and hearing about so many other athletes suffering in silence, she wanted to raise awareness. So Cailin penned a letter to college sports, challenging everyone involved to be better about caring for the mental health of student athletes. Her letter is a reminder that so many athletes are still struggling, and we must do more to help them.
Hear more from Cailin in her interview with Good Morning America. I am so happy she is doing well today as she soon enters her senior year at Vanderbilt.
We look forward to sharing more mental health journeys next month.
Walt Norley
OnBalance Founder & CEO
In The News
'It Was My Attitude, My Character': Dion Waiters Gets Real About NBA Exit
“Depression, anxiety and just not knowing my future. It got serious, bro. I had to get a therapist.”
Bleacher Report - July 12, 2023
A Champion Swimmer Returns, Slowly but Determinedly, to Competition
Caeleb Dressel, an Olympic champion, swam in the nationals after taking a break for mental health reasons.
The New York Times - July 2, 2023
Athletes Onbalance
Check out our podcast, Athletes OnBalance, where we hear from top athletes, coaches and experts discussing and destigmatizing mental health in sports. Don't miss the episode below featuring Coach Nick Saban from the University of Alabama Football Team. For more episodes, visit our website.
Onbalance News
The Sports Business Journal featured OnBalance in its "Startups" series.
The Philadelphia Inquirer published a story about OnBalance.
We welcomed Scott Addis as an OnBalance Advisory Board Member.
Check out the latest on our website and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.
If your university or professional team is interested in learning more about the OnBalance platform, schedule a demo with us.