Athletes OnBalance

Fr. Rob Hagan, O.S.A. on Pressure, Faith, and the Power of Being Seen

In this episode of Athletes OnBalance, CEO Walt Norley speaks with Fr. Robert P. Hagan, O.S.A., Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova and longtime Senior Associate Athletic Director and team chaplain at Villanova University.
Together, they explore how connection, culture, and faith can support the mental health and well-being of student-athletes. Drawing from his experience in both athletics and ministry, Fr. Rob discusses the pressures athletes face, the quiet power of being seen and supported, and why caring communities, on teams, campuses, and beyond, are key to resilience and recovery.
This conversation offers practical insights for coaches, leaders, and anyone working to create an environment where athletes feel safe to ask for help and supported in all aspects of who they are - mind, body, and spirit.

Nick Saban & Dr. Brian Hainline on Mental Health & Culture in College Athletics

In this milestone episode of Athletes OnBalance, Walt sits down with two of the most influential figures in collegiate sports: 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 outcomes, and the importance of treating mental wellness with the same urgency 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 advocate for athlete well-being, this conversation offers meaningful insights into building systems that support athletes as whole people.

Mark and Kym Hilinski: Turning Tragedy into Hope

In this powerful episode of Athletes OnBalance, we explore the journey of Mark and Kym Hilinski, who turned their personal tragedy—the suicide of their son, Tyler—into a mission to prevent similar losses in the athletic community. Through their organization, Hilinski's Hope, they aim to reduce the stigma around mental health and promote awareness, education, and early intervention. The Hilinski’s share their story and the inspiration behind their work, highlighting the critical need for proactive mental health programs and supportive coaching. Join us as we discuss the impact of public figures speaking out about their struggles and envision a future where mental health issues are treated with the same importance as physical injuries, fostering a supportive environment to prevent suicide, and promote well-being in sports.
 

Chief Medical Officer of the NCAA, Dr. Brian Hainline, Discusses the Importance of Sleep, Mental Health, and Brain Health in Student Athletes

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.

Coach Mike Locksley on Personal Tragedy and Becoming a Mental Health Advocate

Mike Locksley, head football coach at the University of Maryland, joins this episode of Athletes OnBalance. Coach Locksley has been coaching for more than 30 years, including eight seasons as a full-time head coach. His coaching resume includes positions at major programs like the University of Alabama, University of Florida, and University of Illinois. During the 2017 season, he won a national championship while serving on Coach Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama. Coach Locksley recently led Maryland to its third consecutive winning season. In this episode, he discusses Meiko, his late son who struggled with a mental health disorder and how his family navigated this difficult time together. Coach Locksley also spoke about Maryland’s ongoing work to provide mental health resources to its student athletes, how he pours himself into the development of each student athlete on and off the field, what he learned from working with Coach Saban, and the urgent need to bring more awareness to the mental health crisis facing our society.  

Kaleigh Kurtz on Overcoming Abuse and Being Courageous

Kaleigh Kurtz, a defender for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League, joins this episode of Athletes OnBalance. Kaleigh has been a member of two NWSL championship teams, both in 2018 and 2019 with the Courage. Last season, she was nominated for NWSL Defender of the Year and named to the league’s Best XI Second Team. Incredibly, she also recently completed her second straight “Iron Woman” season in which she played every minute for her club. In this episode, Kaleigh discusses her experiences with sports psychologists, the importance of controlling the controllables, the challenges that high-level athletes face when they retire from playing, the verbal abuse she endured from a former coach and her struggles that resulted from it, finding the strength to speak up and demand change, and how she is helping others to ensure they never feel alone.

Walt Norley on What Drives Him to Help Student Athletes

Walt Norley, OnBalance Founder and CEO, joins this episode of Athletes OnBalance as the guest with special host Dr. Ginger Gilmore, Director of Behavioral Medicine at the University of Alabama. Walt, a former student athlete who played quarterback at Ohio State University and the University of Georgia, is a tech entrepreneur with more than four decades of experience successfully building and running companies.
OnBalance – a comprehensive platform for measuring, managing, and improving athletes’ mental health – is his sixth company. In this episode, 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, the reason he launched OnBalance, why OnBalance is a necessity for athletic departments, and the importance of breaking the stigma of mental health in sports.

Julie Kliegman on Reporting About Mental Health in Sports

Julie Kliegman, copy chief at Sports Illustrated, joins this episode of Athletes OnBalance. Julie has been a leading voice in the sports media landscape whose coverage focuses on athletes and their mental health. Her work has appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Post, The Ringer and BuzzFeed. In March 2024, her new book titled “Mind Game: An Inside Look at the Mental Health Playbook of Elite Athletes” will be released for sale. In this episode, Julie explains why we should reevaluate how we use the phrase “mental toughness,” the empathetic shift in how sports media covers mental health, the importance of the public granting athletes their humanity, and how social media and other outlets have helped athletes come forward to share their struggles. 

Dan Radakovich on Creating an Ecosystem of Support for Athletes

Dan Radakovich, Director of Athletics at the University of Miami — recognized as one of the most progressive and successful leaders in college athletics — joins this episode of Athletes OnBalance. Dan, who previously served as the Director of Athletics at Clemson and Georgia Tech, has had an incredible career building and advancing some of the leading athletic departments in the country. In this episode, he shares how Miami is prioritizing athlete mental health and how the conversation has shifted among coaches, administrators and student-athletes. He also discusses his personal journey with mental wellness, and how he helped his son, a member of the 2016 National Championship football team at Clemson, overcome similar hurdles.

Dr. Katie O’Neal on Improving the Wellness of SEC Student Athletes

Dr. Katie O’Neal, Chief Medical Advisor for the Southeastern Conference (SEC), joins this episode of Athletes OnBalance. She holds several other positions, including Chief Medical Officer at a regional medical center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, associate professor at LSU and member of the SEC’s Medical Guidance Task Force. In this episode, Dr. O’Neal shares her thoughts on the mental health crisis facing the country, how social media creates pressure in a decentralized sense of community, her desire to make a proactive difference in the lives of student athletes by creating a more accessible ecosystem and her vision of a future where everyone is properly trained and educated to handle a mental health issue