Anne Weese’s journey from a walk-on basketball player at the University of Notre Dame to the mental wellness guru at Kansas State University is one worth telling. As a former athlete herself, Anne knows first hand the many challenges that college athletes face on and off the court. Her transition from athlete to mental health advocate has helped to reshape the way many athletes approach their mental and emotional wellbeing. In this article, we’ll explore Anne’s story and how she is using her experience to make a positive impact on the lives of student-athletes at Kansas State University.
Anne Weese, director of mental wellness and sport psychology for Kansas State’s Athletics Department, is helping athletes address mental health issues in the college’s men’s basketball team. With a Ph.D. in counseling psychology, she assists coaches in implementing best practices and serves as a liaison to the University’s counseling center and outside clinicians. Weese is making a difference in mental health treatment and awareness in college athletics, offering her services to athletes who may need specialized care in areas such as eating disorders or substance abuse. Basketball head coach Jerome Tang has been a driving force behind tangibilizing mental health awareness in the team, helping to improve the Wildcats from 14-17 last season to a 25-9 season and a qualification for the Sweet 16 in the East Regional against Michigan State. Tang introduced Weese to the team as a member of the coaching staff and set the expectation for his team to treat Weese as such. Weese recalls that Tang has helped “normalize” mental health support.
An NCAA survey released in January found that 55% of Division 1 coaches, 50% of Division 2 coaches and 58% of Division 3 coaches said they were “very concerned” with supporting their players’ mental health compared with 45%, 39% and 45% who were “very concerned” with supporting their players’ physical health. Furthermore, the NCAA in 2016 released a document that included four best practices that athletic departments should follow: have licensed practitioners provide mental health services; implement procedures for identifying and referring athletes to qualified practitioners; conduct mental health screening before the season begins; and promote an environment that supports mental well-being and resilience.
Weese feels that donors have increased the financial commitment to mental health for athletes. In April 2021, Kansas State alums Charlie Morrison and his wife, Debbie, donated $10.2 million to the school which included $1 million earmarked for mental health treatment for athletes. Similarly, Karen and Mike Pestinger donated $750,000 for athlete mental health initiatives. These donations helped fund the salary of Deja James, whom Kansas State hired as its second full-time mental wellness and sport psychology employee in 2021.
The increased focus on mental health creates a drastic difference compared to Weese’s time as a Notre Dame basketball walk-on during the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons. At that time, the school did not have a licensed counselor working directly with athletes, and Weese had no idea that one was available. After graduating from Notre Dame in 2005, Weese accepted a job as a graduate assistant for Oklahoma State’s women’s basketball team while pursuing her Ph.D. In 2013, Weese’s first full-time job as a staff counselor at Virginia Tech was split between the counseling center and the athletics department, where she worked with athletes. She is hoping to hire more mental wellness and sport psychology staff in the coming years at Kansas State.
In conclusion, Anne Weese’s inspiring journey from a walk-on basketball player at Notre Dame to Kansas State’s mental wellness guru is a testament to the importance of mental health and the power of perseverance. Weese’s willingness to share her own struggles with anxiety and depression and her passion for helping others has made a significant impact on the K-State community. Her work serves as a reminder that seeking help is a sign of strength, and mental wellness should be a top priority for everyone. With Weese at the helm, K-State is in good hands, and we can all learn something from her example about the importance of taking care of ourselves and those around us.
