Joanne P. McCallie enjoyed a successful career as a college basketball coach.
She fostered positive personal relationships with friends, family, players and recruits.
She stayed in good shape and locked in on her physical health.
While none of those things may sound extraordinary, what makes McCallie’s story so remarkable is that she did all the things listed above while dealing with bipolar disorder.
“I was 30 years old, I was the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Maine and I was on the phone with a recruit,” McCallie said. “This was a very good player, and a young woman with a lot of options as far as her college career, so I was really trying to win her over. And I remember during our conversation telling her ‘the man on television is talking about us,’ because I really believed he was.”
“Of course, that wasn’t possible, and she kind of laughed it off like I was just trying to be funny. The next day I went and saw my doctor and he referred me to a psychologist, who told me that he thought I might have bipolar disorder.”
McCallie recounted her story on Wednesday night at the Highlands Performing Arts Center as part of a community mental health event organized by the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation.
“I was scared, I didn’t want my diagnosis to get out because I didn’t want to be known as the ‘bipolar coach,’” McCallie said. “I thought I could possibly lose my job, or not be considered for future jobs. There was a lot of uncertainty.”
After a successful stint at Maine, McCallie was hired to take over the women’s basketball program at Michigan State University. It was there that she crossed paths with another coaching legend who provided her with a unique opportunity.
“At the time I was the only woman to ever job shadow Nick Saban,” McCallie said. “I learned a lot from coach Saban. How he interacted with his staff, his players, it was invaluable experience. He’s not much of a yeller, but when he did raise his voice, man he got everyone’s attention.”
After taking the Spartans to the Final Four, McCallie moved on to Duke University, where she was able to work alongside fellow Hall of Fame coach Mike Kryziewski. The Blue Devils became one of the nation’s premier women’s basketball programs under McCallie’s direction. Along with more than 600 collegiate wins, McCallie also won two gold medals coaching USA women’s basketball at the Olympics.
“When I decided to step away from basketball, I knew I wanted to write a book and that became my focus,” McCallie said. “While I was coaching, I didn’t want to be known as the bipolar coach, but in writing the book I realized I was a successful coach who happened to have bipolar disorder. My struggles with mental health issues did not define me or my career.”
McCallie encouraged the young people in the audience to be open about mental health and to take stock of all the potential stressors in their own lives.
“I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 30 years old, but my generation didn’t have to deal with all the things teens and people in their 20’s are dealing with today,” McCallie said. “Social media, cyber bullying, so many things that create problems for young people if they are allowed to become pervasive parts of a young person’s life.”
McCallie’s book, “Secret Warrior” details her mental health struggles as a successful coach in a high-profile public occupation. In the book she talks about the stigma associated with being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and how her experience can hopefully help others.
As a sought-after public speaker, McCallie has been able to take her message beyond typical author outlets. Thursday’s event at the Highlands Performing Arts Center was sponsored by the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation.
“When I speak to groups about mental health, they get to know me as a real person,” McCallie said. “I’m not a psychologist, or a psychiatrist, I’m a coach and that is how I speak to people. I want to help people get over the stigmas associated with mental health issues, and I hope my story can reach the audience in a way that is helpful.”
In addition to McCallie’s presentation, HCHF board of directors’ chairman Dr. Walter Clark addressed the crowd and noted that the foundation is taking steps to help promote healthy outcomes both when it comes to physical health and mental health.
“Since our inception in 2019 we have given more than $7 million in grants to local organizations in the healthcare field,” Clark said. “We have helped add school guidance counselors and school nurses at our local campuses, we’ve opened the Blue Ridge Health Clinic with our collaborating partners, to provide primary care on the campus of Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, and we have worked with area nonprofits to provide COVID-19 testing and carry out multiple COVID-19 vaccination clinics that put 14,000 shots in arms.”
Clark added that the foundation is currently looking at ways to continue its work promoting mental health awareness and treatment.
For more information on the foundation, or to make a donation, visit highlandscashiershealthfoundation.org.