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.
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