As Mental Health Awareness Week unfolds, the Texas Longhorns are stepping up to champion better support for athletes. Head coach Steve Sarkisian called on the football community to rally behind college players, who now face unprecedented mental challenges compared to earlier generations.
“Mental health is a very big issue right now in college athletics,” Sarkisian said in a video posted on the team’s official X account. “So much has changed—from NIL to revenue sharing to social media. There’s so much more added pressure on players and student-athletes these days.
“We’ve got to do a great job as an athletic department in supporting them so they can be in the best frame of mind to not only play well but just to be healthy and to be great human beings. And I think we’ve got a responsibility to support them in that.”
The video featured five voices, including Sarkisian, clinical behavioral health director Ashley Harmon, sophomore soccer player Ashlyn Anderson, director of volleyball and head coach Jerritt Elliot, and junior offensive lineman Trevor Grosby. Sarkisian delivered the longest segment, underscoring his personal commitment to the cause.
The Texas head coach has spoken openly about his own mental health battles. After a promising start with the Washington Huskies, he landed the USC Trojans job, but his tenure ended in turmoil. Struggles with alcohol abuse led to his firing midway through his second season. Reports at the time indicated he had showed up to a pre-practice meeting intoxicated, with some players smelling alcohol on his breath. He was later ordered to undergo treatment.
Sarkisian’s remarks come weeks after freshman quarterback Arch Manning, the most famous name in college football, stepped away from social media to protect his mental health. While Manning hasn’t detailed the reasons, the move has sparked broader discussions about the pressures young athletes face in the digital age. Sarkisian’s message aligns with that sentiment: the program must actively create a healthy environment for players to thrive both on and off the field.