Two CEOs and parents unite to provide the support they want for their own college athlete children.
Dallas, TX (June 8, 2026) – Onrise, the leading mental health platform for athletes, today announced a strategic partnership with Learfield, the leading media and technology company powering college sports .
The collaboration will offer Onrise’s comprehensive mental health services to athletic departments nationwide, supplementing existing campus resources with 24/7 specialized care designed specifically for the unique pressures facing college athletes.
The partnership was born from a deeply personal place: both CEOs are parents of current and future college athletes who understand firsthand the mental health challenges their children and peers face in today’s competitive athletic environment.
“As a parent of college athletes, I know the sleepless nights worrying about whether our kids have the support they need when the pressure gets overwhelming,” said Dr. Kim Quigley, CEO and founder of Onrise. “This partnership with Learfield means we can finally provide the level of care I want available for my own children and every parent’s child competing at the college level.”
Cole Gahagan, President and CEO of Learfield, echoed this sentiment: “When Kim and I first conceptualized this partnership, we weren’t just discussing business strategy. We were talking as parents of current and future college student athletes, focused on the mental health and support of our kids, as well as the hundreds of thousands of athletes competing at the collegiate level. With so much change in and around college sports, this is inarguably the most challenging era for student-athletes, with pressures coming from all sides – fewer roster spots, the impact of social media, and NIL demands. Now more than ever before, this service is needed in college sports.”
This collaboration allows us to extend that care to athletic departments across the country and support all the good people doing very hard work.”
Enhancing, Not Replacing, Existing Campus Resources
The partnership is designed to work seamlessly alongside the dedicated professionals already serving college athletes. Onrise’s services will supplement and support existing athletic trainers, sports medicine staff, assistant coaches, academic advisors, and the countless unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes to support student-athletes.
“Athletic departments already have incredible people doing amazing work,” said Dr. Quigley.
“Our role isn’t to replace anyone, but instead it’s to provide an additional layer of specialized mental health support that works hand-in-hand with existing staff. We want to be the resource that helps everyone do their jobs even better.”
The platform offers:
- 24/7/365 crisis support to supplement campus counseling services
- Peer support from retired athletes who understand the unique pressures of college competition
- Licensed therapy and psychiatry with sports-specific expertise to add capacity to existing resources
- Seamless integration with existing athletic department protocols
- Support for staff and coaches who often serve as first responders to athlete mental health needs
Proven Results That Matter: When Heroes Get the Care They Deserve
Onrise’s approach has demonstrated measurable impact across its current partnerships in professional, collegiate and elite youth sports, proving that when we properly care for our modern heroes, they flourish both on and off the field:
- 67% of athlete-heroes report the highest level of improvement in mental health outcomes (using the PGIC- Patient Global Impression of Change)
- Average 4.5-point decrease in depression/anxiety scores of the PHQ-4 for athletes with moderate to severe symptoms, moving them out of the clinical danger zone
- 160% year-over-year growth in utilization as athletes build trust in the system and give themselves permission to be human
“Today’s student-athletes are put on a pedestal and in the spotlight more than any previous generation, and the pressures on them are only growing,” said Dr. Quigley. “These young people are modern heroes, inspiring others while carrying the weight of impossible expectations. The data tells us that when they feel safe and supported, they don’t just perform better in competition; they thrive as complete human beings.”
About the Partnership
Through this collaboration, Learfield will introduce Onrise’s services to its extensive network of 140 plus college and university partners, offering athletic departments flexible packages that fit any size program and budget. The partnership includes comprehensive onboarding support, integration with existing campus resources, and ongoing consultation to ensure maximum effectiveness. Onrise and Learfield will also explore sponsorship opportunities with corporate partners as well as NIL opportunities for student-athletes to continue to advocate for mental health care on campuses.
“We’re not just adding another vendor relationship,” said Dr. Quigley. “We’re creating a support network that honors the incredible work already happening on campuses while filling the gaps that keep parents like Cole and me up at night.”
About Onrise
Founded by Dr. Kim Quigley, Onrise provides comprehensive mental health care specifically designed for athletes at all levels. The platform combines peer support from retired athletes, licensed clinical services, and 24/7 crisis intervention to address the unique mental health challenges facing today’s competitive athletes. Learn more at www.onrise.care.
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.