CHICAGO– As part of continuing efforts to support the mental wellness of student-athletes, coaches and administrators, the BIG EAST Conference and DePaul University teamed up to host the conference’s seventh Student-Athlete Well-Being Forum this week on DePaul’s campus.
The Forum is a multi-day event that addresses critical topics bearing on student-athlete health and wellness and campus strategies to support the evolving needs of athletes, coaches and administrators. This year’s event drew a broad group of attendees, including student-athletes, coaches, behavioral health specialists, doctors, athletic trainers, athletic administrators and industry experts.
Prior BIG EAST Well-Being Forums were held at Seton Hall University (2024), Xavier University (2023), the University of Connecticut (2022), Providence College (2019), Butler University (2018), and Georgetown University (2017).
Katie Willett, BIG EAST Senior Associate Commissioner for Compliance, Governance and Student-Athlete Development, led the planning for this year’s Forum. John Fanta, the voice of the BIG EAST and NBC Sports Analyst, served as emcee.
“This year’s Well-Being Forum once again highlighted the needs of our athletes as they manage a variety of stressors and juggle the demands of sports, academics, and everyday life,” said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. “We hope the dialogue here will inspire tools to cope with today’s challenges and reinforce that our athletes have people and resources to turn to when they need help and support.”
“DePaul University was honored to host the BIG EAST Student-Athlete Well-Being Forum and welcome colleagues and student-athletes from across the conference to our campus. At a time when college athletics continues to evolve at a rapid pace, creating space for meaningful conversations about student-athlete well-being has never been more important,” said DePaul Senior Vice President & Director of Athletics DeWayne Peevy. “We were proud to serve as the host institution and contribute to a conference-wide effort that places the well-being of our student-athletes at the center of everything we do.”
The Forum began Tuesday with opening remarks from BIG EAST Conference Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Vince Nicastro, followed by a moment of remembrance for former DePaul men’s soccer student-athlete Chase Stegall. DePaul President Robert L. Manuel also addressed the attendees.
Tanya Williams (Social Justice Educator, Authentic Coaching and Consulting) and Jean Merrill (NCAA Director of Education and Governance, Office of Inclusion) led a presentation and break-out groups on the NCAA’s Common Ground program. The initiative creates opportunities for dialogue and relationship building for people of all faiths, gender identities, and sexual orientations.
“I look forward to the BIG EAST Well-Being Forum every year. It’s always inspiring to see our student-athlete leaders in action while coaches, administrators, and presidents come together to elevate and support their voices and needs,” said Kari Lewis, Marquette Director of Student-Athlete Mental Health and Sports Performance. “I believe this forum helps build the capacity of student-athletes to thrive as people, students, and athletes. Each institution invests so much in the development and well-being of its students, and this forum is a powerful reflection of that commitment.” Lewis is a member of the BIG EAST's health and safety working group.
The programming continued on Wednesday, starting with a panel featuring BIG EAST student-athletes reflecting on their day-to-day experiences and the stressors affecting their lives. The day continued with a group discussion about the pressures that keep people in athletics up at night, which included Peevy, Butler’s Mental Health Services Director Brian Tremml, DePaul Head Men’s Soccer Coach Mark Plotkin, and BIG EAST student-athletes - Ava Ripanti from Providence women's soccer, UConn women's swimmer Bridget Davis, Butler baseball's Simon Linde, and Olivia Austin from DePaul women's track & field.
“The Big East student-athlete well-being forum is incredibly important to foster a sense of community among our institutions,” said Tremml. "The conversations that took place helped us to connect over shared experiences of navigating the collegiate athletics landscape. It was incredibly helpful to pause and acknowledge our struggles while working to support one another. Athletes, coaches, and administrators all face unique pressures, and by listening to one another, we were able to form a sense of understanding and acknowledgement of what values should be driving collegiate athletics forward."
Stevin “Hedake” Smith, EPIC Global Solutions presenter, detailed from first-hand experience how gambling and point-shaving altered the trajectory of his basketball career at Arizona State. Smith challenged the attendees to better understand the risks associated with sports wagering and its impact on integrity and decision-making. IC360 Managing Director of Education and Responsible Play, Daniel Trolaro, also gave a presentation about current sports wagering trends.
The final panel of the day, which also focused on sports betting, was moderated by Seton Hall’s Dr. Peter J. Economou and included Trolaro, EPIC Global Solutions Associate Jake Sanford, and DePaul Associate Athletics Director for NCAA Compliance, Tom DeVinney.