Athletes OnBalance

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 physic...

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 inspirati...

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 N...

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 sh...

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 compreh...

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...

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 prio...

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 medi...

Cailin Bracken, a lacrosse player at Vanderbilt University, joins Walt on this episode of Athletes OnBalance. Cailin, who plays attack for the Commodores, is entering her senior year. As a college freshman, she made the decision to step away to address her mental health. After eventually returning to campus and to the sport she loves, she wrote a powerful letter to college sports, demanding everyone involved be better at caring for...

Jimmy Johns, a former University of Alabama football player joins Walt on this episode of Athletes OnBalance. Jimmy, who was a star quarterback in high school in his home state of Mississippi, went on to play football at the University of Alabama. As a member of the Crimson Tide from 2005-07, he primarily played running back and later converted to linebacker. In 2006, he was selected as Alabama’s Special Teams Player of the Year. D...

On episode 2, Walt is joined by Nick Saban, Head Coach for the University of Alabama Football Team. Coach Saban has won seven national championships, which is the most in college football history. Of those seven titles, he has won six at Alabama since he took the helm there in 2007 and eight SEC championships. He has coached four Heisman Trophy winners and hundreds of players who have gone on to star in the NFL. Aside from all thos...

On episode 1, Walt is joined by Dr. Ginger Gilmore, Director of Behavioral Medicine and Athletic Trainer at the University of Alabama. Dr. Gilmore has been with Alabama for nearly 30 years, including the last 16 with the school’s football team where she works closely with Head Coach Nick Saban to spearhead mental health efforts for the team. She’s also responsible for creating the behavioral health program for the entire athletic d...