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.