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.