COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
F I R S T A N N U A L C O N F E R E N C E
DENVER, CO
FEBRUARY 26-27, 2025
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
Day1–February26,2025
7:30 – 8:00am: Registration
8:05 – 8:40am: Day 1 Opening
Matt Mishkind, PhD: Deputy Director, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Johnson Depression Center (www.coloradodepressioncenter.org)
Don Elliman: Chancellor, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (https://www.cuanschutz.edu/)
8:40 – 9:35am: Panel – State of Mental Health in Athletics
Scott Sidwell - Moderator: Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief Operating Officer, Colorado State University (https://csurams.com/)
Panelists:
Dona Rodgers: Co-Founder, Board Chairwoman and President of Morgan’s Message, Inc. (https://www.morgansmessage.org/)
Kym Hilinski: Co-Founder, Hilinski’s Hope Foundation (H3H; https://www.hilinskishope.org/)
Gabrielle Fontana: Co-Founder, Mia Fontana Foundation (https://www.miafontanafoundation.org/)
Arman Taghizadeh, MD: Medical Director, The Hidden Opponent (https://www.thehiddenopponent.org/)
9:45 – 10:40am: Panel – Program Dissemination Needs and Best Practices
Nathaan Demers, PsyD – Moderator: Clinical Psychologist and Principal Investor, Hopelab (https://hopelab.org/)
Panelists
Suzanne Potts: Chief Executive Officer, The Hidden Opponent (https://www.thehiddenopponent.org/)
Ross Barr, PsyD, LP: Director of Student-Athlete Mental Health and Performance, Colorado State University (https://csurams.com/)
Mena Mirhom, MD, FAPA: Chief Wellbeing Officer, Athletes for Hope (https://www.athletesforhope.org/)
Aziz Shittu: Defensive Graduate Assistant Coach, University of Colorado (https://cubuffs.com/)
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
Day1–February26,2025-continued
10:40 – 11:45am: Break/Networking
11:45am – 1:10pm (lunch served): Aaron Bailey Suicide Prevention Keynote –
“Understanding the Unique Risks of Athletes and Military Personnel to Inform Suicide Prevention Efforts”
Kimberly O’Brien, PhD, LICSW - Presenter: (https://www.khmobrien.com/)
Founder and Director, Unlimited Resilience, LLC (https://unlimitedresiliencellc.com/)
Co-Founder and Director, Better Together (https://www.athletesbettertogether.com/)
Research and Training Consultant, Behavioral Research & Training Institute, Rutgers University (https://ubhc.rutgers.edu/education/brti-overview.xml)
1:15 – 1:55pm: Presentation - Concussions and Mental Health in Youth
Ann Lantagne, PhD: Pediatric Psychologist, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Children’s Hospital Colorado (https://www.cumedicine.us/providers/physicalmedicine-rehabilitation/Ann-Lantagne#/)
2:05 – 3:00pm: Panel – Working from Within: Unique Approaches to Mental health Support Within College Athletics
Matt Mishkind, PhD – Moderator Panelists
Erin Rubenking, LPC, LAC: Owner and Therapist, Nourish Therapy, PLLC (https://nourish-therapy.com/)
Jess Kirby, PhD: Program Director for Mountain Lion Strong, Director for Critical Sports Studies, University of Colorado Colorado Springs (https://ccss.uccs.edu/kirby)
Taylor Stuemky: Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations / Senior Woman Administrator (SWA), University of Wyoming (https://gowyo.com/)
Rich Bennett, MS, ATC: Associate Athletics Director, Sport Performance and Wellness, Colorado College (https://cctigers.com/)
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
Day1–February26,2025-continued
3:00 – 3:15pm: Break/Snacks
3:15 – 4:10pm: Panel - Athletic Trainers as Mental Health Partners
Dennis Coonan, MSE, LAT, ATC – Moderator: Program Manager, Sports Medicine Center, Children’s Hospital Colorado (https://www.childrenscolorado.org/doctorsand-departments/departments/orthopedics/programs/sports-medicine-center/)
Panelists:
Sports Medicine Center, Children’s Hospital Colorado (https://www.childrenscolorado.org/doctors-anddepartments/departments/orthopedics/programs/sports-medicine-center/)
Brittney Millet, ATC: Concussion Program Coordinator
Jenny Van Meter, LAT, ATC: Associate Clinical Manager – Secondary Schools
Matthew Brewer, MS, LAT, ATC: Associate Clinical Manager
Virginia Winn, ATC: Associate Clinical Manager for Outreach Athletic Trainers
Robert Lopez, MAT, LAT, ATC, CES: Certified Athletic Trainer, Orthopedics Institute
4:10 – 4:30pm: Day 1 Close Out
4:30 – 6:00pm: Break
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
Day1–February26,2025-EveningPanel
6:00pm: Doors Open for Networking
Pizza Dinner
Network with Coalition partners, other participants, and panel members
7:00 - 8:15pm: Panel Discussion
Brian Enge – moderator: As the COO of Pioneer Sports, Brian oversees a national youth soccer organization that serves 300,000 young athletes through clubs, events, leagues, and services
Panelists
Jimmer Fredette - 10th overall draft pick in 2011, 6-year NBA career, member of inaugural Olympic 3x3 Men’s Basketball Team US
Dee Brown - 19th overall pick in 1990, All-Rookie First Team, 1991 NBA
Slam Dunk winner, 12-year NBA career, currently serves as Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director for Jacksonville University
Civana Kuhlmann - Played soccer for Stanford and Colorado, NCAA Division 1 Soccer National Champion, member of NWSL’s Washington Spirit, member of U.S. under-17 and under-20 teams, Colorado native who played for Colorado Rush
Mark Schlereth – Played 12 seasons in the NFL including six with the Denver Broncos, member of 3 Super Bowl championship teams, 2x ProBowl selectee, George Halas awardee, and member of Denver Broncos
50th Anniversary team
Gary Barnett - Head football coach for schools including Northwestern and Colorado, 2x Big Ten and Big 12 Coach of the Year, Buffs4Life Board of Directors
8:15 - 8:45pm: Networking
Network with Coalition partners, other participants, and panel members
9:00pm: Doors Closed
All participants must exit the building by 9:00pm
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
Day2–February27,2025
7:30 – 8:00am: Registration
8:05 – 8:25am: Opening to Day 2
Matt Mishkind, PhD
Ralph Fawaz: Founder, Tele-Hope (https://www.tele-hope.org/)
8:25 – 9:05am: Presentation - Eating Disorders and Athletics: Signs, Symptoms, and How to Help
Emily Hemendinger, LCSW, MPH, CPH, ACS: Clinical Director, OCD and Anxiety
Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient Programs, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/psychiatry/PatientCare/obsessive-compulsivedisorder-program)
9:10 – 10:05am: Panel - Understanding Today’s Sports Environment: How to Support Athletes
Kathryn Ames, MA, NCC, LPC – Moderator: Founder, Thru the Game (https://www.thruthegame.com/)
Panelists
Simone DeLoach, LMFT, LCDC: Therapist, Thru the Game Facilitator (https://www.thereboundwellness.com/)
Aliyah Weant: Athlete, Coach, Nursing Student (https://www.rmpbs.org/blogs/news/athletes-have-long-pushed-past-mentalhealth-issues-but-the-conversation-is-starting-to-change)
Mike Rooney, MS, LPC: Therapist (https://www.thruthegame.com/our-team)
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
Day2–February27,2025-continued
10:10 – 11:05am: Panel - Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Well-Being
Mark Allen, MD – moderator: Chairman of the Board of Directors, American Board of Sports & Performance Psychiatry; Owner, Peak Sports Psychiatry, PLLC (https://www.ussportspsychiatry.org/; https://www.peaksportspsychiatry.com/)
Panelists
Brook Choulet, MD: President, American Board of Sports & Performance Psychiatry (https://www.brookchouletmd.com/)
Kate Daley, RDN, LD, LPCC: Owner, Kate Daley Nutrition & Counseling, LLC (https://www.katesdaleyeatsnutrition.com/)
Letha Atwater, LPC, LAC: Independent Practitioner, Author (https://hofhealth.com/)
Alex Reed, PsyD: Team psychologist for Denver Nuggets and Colorado Rapids, Director of Behavioral Science Education (https://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/23117)
11:05 – 11:45am: Break/Networking/Grab Food
11:45 – 12:40pm (lunch served): Lunchtime Panel - Driving Policy Development at the Local, State, and National Levels
Brigitte Shulze – Moderator: Co-Founder, Sarah Shulze Foundation (https://www.sarahshulzefoundation.org/)
Panelists
Gina Meyer & Steve Meyer: Co-Founders, Katie’s Save (https://katiessave.org/)
Skye Arthur-Banning, PhD: Co-Founder and Director of Research and Development, U.S. Center for Mental Health & Sport (https://mentalhealthandsport.org/)
Marcus Alston: Founder, Alston for Athletes (https://www.alstonforathletes.org/)
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
Day2–February27,2025-continued
12:50 – 1:45pm: Panel - Supporting the Mental Health of Athletes: Perspectives from an Athletic Conference
Audrey Bloomquist: Director for Marketing and Championships, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC; www.rmacsports.org)
Panelists
Sean Belzer: Student-athlete, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, RMAC
National SAAC Representative (https://rmacsports.org/news/2024/12/11/generalncaa-selects-sean-belzer-of-uccs-as-rmac-national-saac-representative.aspx)
Philip Vigil: Head Football Coach, CSU Pueblo (https://gothunderwolves.com/staffdirectory/philip-vigil/317)
Jon Poag: Athletic Director, Colorado Christian University (https://ccucougars.com/staff-directory/jon-poag/95)
Karly Morkunas: Student-athlete, Western Colorado University (https://gomountaineers.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/karlymorkunas/9709)
Regina Curry: Wellness Coach, Fort Lewis College (https://goskyhawks.com/staffdirectory/regina-curry/288)
12:45 – 2:15pm: Conference Close Out
3:00 – 5:00pm: Additional/Optional training
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
in collaboration with
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
Collaborating Partners
Alston for Athletes https://www.alstonforathletes.org/
Alston for Athletes mission is to advocate for student-athlete mental health through policy change and providing access to mental health services. We are advocating for legislation that mandates mental health training for coaches and we provide mental health scholarships that grant student-athletes free access to a clinical sport psychologist during the school year.
American Board of Sports & Performance Psychiatry https://www.ussportspsychiatry.org/
The American Board of Sports and Performance Psychiatry (ABSPP) is dedicated to advancing the field and maintaining the highest standards for certification, education, and professional practice.
Mission: Our mission is to empower and credential sports and performance psychiatrists who demonstrate excellence in the comprehensive care of athletes and performers, fostering mental well-being and optimal performance. Through the certification of boardcertified sports and performance psychiatrists, we aim to enhance the mental health and well-being of athletes, performers, executives, and individuals striving for peak performance in their personal and professional lives.
Athletes for Hope https://www.athletesforhope.org/
Founded in 2006 by Muhammad Ali, Mia Hamm, and ten other elite athletes, AFH empowers athletes to create positive community change. AFH has educated over 12,000 athletes, connected them with underserved communities, and launched programs focused on mental health, physical health, and leadership. The Whole Being Athlete Program, launched in 2021, fights mental health stigma in sports through Education, Storytelling, and Advocacy. Events like Advocacy Day amplify awareness, while ambassadors champion mental well-being worldwide.
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
Collaborating Partners
Better Together https://www.athletesbettertogether.com/ OUR PROGRAMS EDUCATE AND EMPOWER ASPIRING COLLEGE ATHLETES THROUGH MENTAL SKILLS TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP
Athletes Better Together is an educational and mentorship platform connecting younger athletes to college and professional mentors who provide support and guidance by sharing their lived experiences.
Dr. Kimberly O’Brien PhD, LICSW leads Better Together’s program development, providing skills and content to help athletes build resilience in and out of sports.
Buffs4Life https://buffs4life.org/
Since launching in 2005, Buffs4Life has provided a support system to help ensure no University of Colorado alumni athlete suffers medical or financial hardship alone. To support this mission, we are committed to focus on physical and mental health wellness as well as being a resource for the family, career and education-oriented needs of our alumni athletes. We have raised over 1.5 million dollars and have supported over 70 alumni athletes and their families in the last 20 years.
Hilinski’s Hope Foundation https://www.hilinskishope.org/
Mission: Hilinski’s Hope Foundation is a non-profit organization formed to promote awareness and education of mental health and wellness for student athletes. The Foundation’s mission is to educate, advocate, and eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness, while funding programs that provide student-athletes with the tools and resources that support their mental health and wellness.
Vision: The Hilinski’s Hope Foundation (H3H) was founded in 2018 by Mark and Kym Hilinski to honor the life of their son Tyler. H3H helps colleges and universities save lives, eliminate stigma, and scale mental wellness programs for student-athletes. H3H does this by sharing Tyler’s story, connecting students with mental health resources, and assisting universities to institutionalize best practices.
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
Collaborating Partners
Katie’s Save www.katiessave.org/
Katie's Save, a foundation named in honor and memory of Stanford Women's Soccer Goalkeeper Katie Meyer, pursued legislative action to make sure students have the option of an "outside the university" advocate of their choice, should they ever become involved in a formal administrative conflict, which if left unsupported, could potentially spiral into tragedy-- Katie Meyer's Law passed in California in September 2024! Katie's Save will continue to push the law federally, while also doing collaborative work with leading Mental Health Advocacy Groups, Suicide Prevention Programs and presenting to high school and college students. Katie Meyer was an outstanding student athlete who loved soccer, her family, friends and teammates.
Kevin Love Fund https://kevinlovefund.org/
In collaboration with educators and social emotional learning experts, Kevin Love launched a free curriculum that supports middle, high school and college students in expressing emotion and destigmatizing challenges with mental health. The Kevin Love Fund offers a free one-hour virtual training to educators, coaches and athletic directors, and at the end of this training, participants will have access to our digital platform with over 20 engaging and creative lessons. Our pedagogy builds community in the classroom and within teams, deepens connections between educators/coaches and students, and supports both students and school staff with their mental health.
Mia Fontana Foundation https://www.miafontanafoundation.org/ Gabrielle and Joe Fontana started the Mia Fontana Foundation after our 15-year-old daughter died by suicide in 2021 while challenged by depression and anxiety. Our goal is to help children, teens and young adults thrive by building emotional resilience, increasing compassion and opening up the conversation about mental health.
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
Collaborating Partners
Mia Fontana Foundation (continued)
One of our primary initiatives is to raise awareness about anxiety, helping our youth and their families understand that a certain amount of anxiety is healthy and when to recognize when it's too much. We show Angst, a film documentary on anxiety, in schools to upper elementary to high school students and parents. At the conclusion of Angst, we provide a mental health professional to answer questions from both students and parents. These events have normalized the mental health conversation and helped families who have struggling students. Our program includes tips to recognize symptoms and encourages when to reach out for help. Most importantly, it shows us that we are not alone and that anxiety is 100% treatable. We have screened the movie during the day to groups of students and in the evenings for both parents and students in a theater setting. We can suggest organizing events from one school to cluster events (multiple high schools and/or the surrounding community.) We also provide take away materials for schools & the viewing participants. All the foundation events are free of charge.
Morgan’s Message www.morgansmessage.org/
Morgan’s Message® strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within high school and collegiate student-athlete communities and aims to equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics. By amplifying personal stories through our podcast and blog, The Mental Matchup, and resources that expand the dialogue on mental health, our goal is to normalize difficult conversations, empower those who suffer in silence, and support individuals who feel alone in their struggles. With over 6500 Ambassadors at more than 2000 high school and college campuses spanning the U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, Norway and South Africa, the Morgan’s Message Education Program is one of the largest peer-to-peer student-athlete organizations for mental health advocacy. For more information, visit morgansmessage.org and follow the organization on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
Collaborating Partners
Morgan’s Message (continued)
Morgan’s Message® supports peer-to-peer communication and strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics. We aim to expand the dialogue on mental health by normalizing conversations, empowering those who suffer in silence, and supporting those who feel alone.
One Love https://www.joinonelove.org/
Our foundation was founded to honor the tragic death of Yeardley Love by engaging young people through compelling, relatable films and honest conversations around healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviors.
One Love Foundation is a national non-profit organization with the goal of ending relationship abuse. We empower young people with the tools and resources they need to see the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships and bring life-saving prevention education to their communities.
Pioneer Sports & Entertainment, LLC https://pioneersports.com/
Pioneer Sports & Entertainment has a history of success in a wide range of businesses. Our portfolio covers elite sports, tournaments, events and entertainment, online retail merchandising, travel services and cutting edge tools and software. Leveraging the strength of our experience in operations, finance, and technology, Pioneer Sports & Entertainment impacts hundreds of thousands each year.
We are a team with deep roots in youth sports from our playing days, now leading top youth clubs, leagues, and events. We have helped kids chase their dreams through sport. We have won national championships. We have nurtured World Cup and Olympic athletes. We are not only a conduit to providing millions of dollars in college scholarships, we have also granted millions of scholarship dollars of our own.
Our proven track record and expertise allows us to provide an unparalleled level of support, innovation, and success in the realm of sports and entertainment.
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
Collaborating Partners
Sarah Shulze Foundation www.sarahshulzefoundation.org/
The Shulze Family started the Sarah Shulze Foundation,, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, after the sudden and tragic loss of Sarah to suicide in April 2022. Sarah, a member of the women’s cross country and track and field teams at University of Wisconsin, was one of seven suicides in eight weeks of college student athletes. The Shulze Family left with more questions than answers on mental health and suicide prevention created the Sarah Shulze Foundation to bring awareness to both of these things as well as student athlete advocacy. Sarah always saw herself as a power for good in her community, teams, school and family. At the SSF, it is our intention to be a power for good just as Sarah always wanted to be. For more information, please visit www.sarahshulzefoundation.org.
Tele-Hope https://www.tele-hope.org/
Tele-Hope was founded in 2022 as a student-athlete partnership program to create hope for youth. After two years, we realized true hope is fostered through genuine friendships. While pairing student-athletes with 11-18-year-olds brought some hope, our experience with 45 kids in the program revealed a key insight: no one creates hope for others quite like peers within the same age group. With this realization, we shifted our focus to teaching young people how to reach out and support one another. In Wyoming, it’s common to face challenges alone, but the truth is— that cowboys ride together. At Tele-Hope, we’re committed to helping youth build the connections that inspire resilience, belonging, and hope.
The Defensive Line https://thedefensiveline.org/
The Defensive Line Vision: A world where no young person of color dies by suicide The Defensive Line Mission: To end the epidemic of youth suicide, especially for young people of color, by transforming the way we communicate and connect about mental health. Why do we exist: In January 23, 2018 we lost our daughter and sister Ella Elizabeth Thomas to suicide at the age of 24. Through years of grief and suffering, we found our way to transform our pain into purpose by creating The Defensive Line.
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
Collaborating Partners
The Defensive Line (continued)
We realized we didn’t want to talk about suicide in a monolithic way as it has been in the mainstream for decades. Clearly something is going on in communities of color that demand a different perspective. We aim to be part of that solution. We provide suicide prevention workshops to educators and coaches in middle and high schools, particularly focusing on schools with a majority students of color in an attempt to bring these nuanced conversations of race and mental health to educators who have the greatest opportunities to expand their curiosity and create supportive environments for all of their students. TDL leads and participates in these events so we can advance our vision of “creating a world where no young person of color does by suicide.” Our tragedy has fueled us to seek changes in mental health for young people of color (10-24) so that no young person of color dies by suicide again.
We are turning our pain into purpose! Our organization has laid the groundwork for an evidenced based suicide prevention program that can be applied to multiple populations. Working with leading experts in the field, we developed DLINES, our suicide prevention workshops for executives, teachers, coaches, and staff in secondary schools, colleges and universities to answer the question: What is your defensive line for intervening in a mental health crisis?
The Hidden Opponent https://www.thehiddenopponent.org/
The Hidden Opponent (THO) is a nonprofit organization formed to address the mental health crisis facing student-athletes and unite them through advocacy, education, and support. We advocate for athlete mental health so that every student-athlete has the opportunity to receive accessible, culturally sensitive, and inclusive mental health care. We educate on mental health topics so that every student-athlete has access to medicallybacked, evidence-based expertise. We support anyone struggling so that we will never lose another student-athlete to suicide. We believe that all student-athletes should be able to speak openly about their mental health experiences without worrying about being judged or viewed as weak.
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
Collaborating Partners
Thru the Game https://www.thruthegame.com/
Thru The Game strives to improve emotional intelligence in an effort to foster more resilient teens and young adults. By getting athletes, coaches, and parents on the same page with regards to mental health, we create a more supportive environment for kids to thrive and deal with life's challenges. With mental health support for young athletes, guidance for parents, and education and training for coaches, Thru The Game takes a 360-degree approach to health and wellness. We heavily reinforce life lessons learned through sports, while also addressing the many challenges kids face off the field. Timely topics and trends are discussed within the supportive context of the team, guided and facilitated by adults with an expertise in counseling, coaching, and athletics.
Thru The Game counselors have extensive experience not only with mental health, but also with coaching and sports. We've found that the camaraderie built through sports encourages honesty and vulnerability, which creates an ideal setting for mental health support and personal growth. Using our proactive approach in a non-threatening environment empowers athletes to apply what they learn on the field to their life situations off the field.
COALITIONOFATHLETICCOMMUNITIES
Collaborating Partners
U.S. Center for Mental Health and Sport https://mentalhealthandsport.org/
The U.S. Center for Mental Health & Sport, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, develops sport environments that allow for optimum mental wellness by providing mental health training and resources, opening pathways to access additional mental health support services, and committing to the advancement of mental health and sport research.
At the U.S. Center for Mental Health & Sport, we are focused on making sport environments a place where all involved can experience support for their mental health. We all have mental health and we should never be ashamed to talk about it or get the support we need. Mental health falls along a continuum and the mental health we experience can change throughout our lives. Whether individuals' mental health is thriving or languishing, the USCMHS has the resources, training and support to help make the sport environment one that is inclusive and provides a positive experience