Origin Stories: Q&A With Luke Ward — Father, Coach, and Athletic Director
The athlete ecosystem is one of the most vibrant, inspiring, and soulful communities. It is also submerged in an expectation that these things can only be maintained by a standard of mental toughness that deeply embeds mental health stigma. At Timeout, we’re deconstructing this barrier by painting the full picture — bringing you the humans beneath athletes, coaches, care providers, and anyone else immersed in this world. We’re exploring mental health research in a fresh and approachable way — by welcoming our entire community into the conversation and asking questions that will prompt change. Let’s redefine mental toughness together.
In this interview series called “Origin Stories,” we are talking with individuals living in the athlete ecosystem about their journey as a human, and the mental health challenges that come with it.
In honor of Father’s Day, Marissa sat down with Head Women’s and Men’s Volleyball Coach at Trinity International University, Luke Ward. Since taking over the women’s program in 2015, Coach Ward has had the most successful win record of any coach at the university. Aside from his tremendous success as a coach, he is also a father, husband, and mentor. Luke shares his perspective as a dad and coach on the state of mental health in the athletic community today.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
Coaches play such an important role in their athletic communities. How they view mental health is really going to drive a healthy (or unhealthy) space for athletes to deal with various issues they might face throughout their athletic career. If they create a healthy space, coaches are leaned on beyond just their coaching abilities — this can sometimes include playing the role of a counselor, mentor, and parent figure. Balancing each of these different roles requires them to also prioritize their own mental health so they can continue to pour into the lives they touch every day.
In the same light, parental figures also play a role in how an athlete views their mental health. Fathers specifically play a role in the mental well-being of an athlete. According to research done by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, support from parents has a direct influence on athletes’ level of stress and motivation. In fact, positive family relationships appear to decrease worry, upset, and delays in injury recovery in athletes — all directly coordinating with mental health.
MM: When you first became a coach, was mental health an important aspect on your radar?
LW: Yes and no, I understood that it was important but wasn’t sure how to fit it into what we did as a team. At that point, mental health was still a more taboo topic than it is today. I knew mental toughness played a role in being a successful athlete and team but I didn’t know how to balance the expectation of being excellent and dealing with real-life mental and emotional health issues.
MM: How has your view of mental health changed over your coaching career?
LW: Through getting my master's in coaching and experiencing my own battle with depression, I have been more intentional and aware of cultivating a culture where you can bring the best and worst parts of yourself. We come into practice/matches and we are already enough….in our gym — we’re working to be a little bit better than we were the day before. No judgment or shame on having baggage or bringing your authentic self.
MM: How has the pandemic played a role in athlete mental health?
LW: Isolation and fear have been huge factors in the athlete’s mental health. The pandemic took away routine, stability, and community — all important values in being part of an athletic team. Depression and anxiety are at an all-time high. Even with athletes returning to play after COVID and the lack of consistency with schedule changes and quarantines, we’ve expected and demanded more from this athlete than any other generation.
MM: As a coach and father, how do you take time to focus & prioritize your mental health?
LW: I should probably prioritize it more often than I do. What has worked for me is to make time for positive triggers. We think of the word “trigger” as something negative but there can be positive triggers that help regulate you in a way. Being outside, spending time with family, getting lost in a T.V. series, spending time with God…all ways that I know can re-fill my cup or re-set me when I can feel a downward spiral happening. I’ve also done therapy and taken personality tests (like the Enneagram) to understand myself better and bring clarity to why I feel the way I do sometimes.
MM: How does your mental health impact the hats you wear (being a coach, husband, dad, etc)?
LW: My mental health needs to be important as I want to be at my best (with what I have that day) with my many “hats.” My purpose is driven by others…serving others, family, athletes, staff, etc. It’s normal for me to take on more responsibilities as a way of being helpful but also be intentional about maintaining boundaries. After my daughter passed, I started going to therapy and realized what a good counselor/therapist can do for your mental health. Being authentic and vulnerable with my struggles and triumphs with my family and the team have been a great exercise for me.
MM: How do you feel about current resources for athlete mental health? Do you think there are adequate resources for what today’s athletes need?
LW: From the time I was an athlete, the resources for mental and emotional support have increased tenfold. However, I believe we’re still lacking in ways to support mental and emotional health. We lack time, creativity, and probably budgets to pour into the right resources. As we transition away from the dictator style of coaching that used to be more prevalent, you’re going to see more coaches/leaders value supporting athletes from a more holistic perspective. The hope would be that we as coaches can/will etch out more time with off-the-court space for athletes to get the help they need.
MM: As your kids grow up, what are you hoping they understand about mental health?
LW: I hope they understand that battling with mental and emotional health is normal. That it’s ok to struggle and seeking help is brave. Training them to believe the opposite of what societal norms are. I pray that as they seek help, they understand it’s a journey and a process and not just about an outcome of “getting better.” When they’re old enough to understand, I will share with them my story and my battle.
MM: What is your hope for the athletic community’s future regarding mental health?
LW: That we change the narrative on the stigmas surrounding mental health. I hope we can invest more time and money into resources. We need to make sure we equip those in leadership positions and on the front lines with the right words and proper professional ways to support those athletes. In reality, all athletes need the message (not just the ones “struggling.”)
From our family at The Timeout App to yours, Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads and father figures out there! Your role is essential and has a huge impact. We appreciate you!
