How exactly can we get this done? Coach P. It is imperative to acknowledge mental illness and then fight to become a healthier version of ourselves. Those words do not, however, release you from the responsibility of getting better. So hearing, “it’s not your fault,” felt like a weight lifted off of her shoulders. These four words left a huge impression on Coach P.īrain ailments can result from several things: genetics, triggers, and past traumas, to name a few. 628 Wins as a Coach (Auburn, Maine, Michigan State and Duke).The following year, she was selected to coach the U21 team at the FIBA World Championship. Her team had 5 straight NCAA Tournament appearances.ĭuring this time, she also coached the USA U20 National Team to a gold medal in the FIBA Americas U20 Championship. She was able to experience the Big Ten Conference. became Maine’s all-time winningest women’s basketball coach with a total of 167 victories in her eight years there.įrom Maine, she went on to Michigan State University where she coached for seven years. kept her diagnosis mostly to herself to keep the focus on the team.Ĭoach P. One thing she never wanted to do was take attention away from her team. Compartmentalizing played a massive role in her mental health. sought out a psychiatrist who dramatically helped her navigate this aspect of her life. Despite those few bad apples, the response was overwhelmingly positive.Ĭoach P. People used it against her in recruiting. The whole team threatened to turn in their jerseys.ĭealing with the stigma was one of the toughest parts of her diagnosis. They stood up to the administration and their parents, demanding support. She had just taken her first head coach position at Maine and birthed her first child.įortunately, she has a supportive and loving family. was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and manic depression. Becoming Coach P.Ī post shared by Joanne P. She had no regrets but did wonder what could have been at Duke. She ultimately chose Northwestern because of the influence of her mom. It was two universities that grabbed her attention: Duke and Northwestern. had many opportunities to play ball in college. This pushed her to dedicate more time to basketball.Ĭoach P. She knew she was good at it from the start, but it was the praise that confirmed her belief. She was always an active person, playing three sports simultaneously at one point. was a Navy brat who lived all over the country, though considers herself raised in Brunswick, Maine. and her struggles with overcoming mental health stigma. This book is a must-read for folks who want to know more about Coach P. She recently authored the book Secret Warrior, a memoir following her journey through mental health. She has worked with prestigious institutions like Duke and Michigan State. She has earned her spot in the Hall of Fame for D-1 women’s basketball. racked up over 600 wins during a 32-year coaching career. Listen to the full interview on The Omega Sports Women’s Only Podcast.Ĭoach P. While most may know her as a coach, she is also an author, speaker, and mental health advocate. We are thrilled to have former Duke women’s basketball head coach, Coach P., join us.
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