RADical Hope Joins the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference to Support Conference-Wide Mental Health Initiatives

RADical Hope and RMAC kicked off partnership at RMAC Football Media Day

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference has entered a strategic partnership with RADical Hope, a national nonprofit dedicated to strengthening resilience and emotional wellness among young adults. The collaboration kicked off last Tuesday afternoon with a presentation to football student-athletes at the 2026 RMAC Football Media Day, led by Jean Boyd, RADical Hope consultant and retired Deputy Athletics Director at Arizona State University. The partnership will continue in ongoing support of the RMAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s (SAAC) new mental health subcommittee and its conference-wide mental health awareness efforts.

RADical Hope was founded by Pam and Phil Martin following the loss of their son, Chris, to suicide in 2017. The foundation develops, funds, and scales evidence-based programs — including its signature RADical Health curriculum — that help young adults build resilience and strengthen connection. RADical Hope, recently featured at the 2026 NACDA Convention in Las Vegas, continues to expand its footprint in the college athletics space nationwide.

To formally kick off the RMAC’s partnership with RADical Hope, guest speaker, Jean Boyd, delivered an engaging session to head coaches and athlete representatives of each of the RMAC’s 10 football programs during the first day of the 2026 RMAC Football Media Day.

“It was an honor to represent RADical Hope while working with the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s head football coaches and designated team leaders at RMAC Football Media Day,” said Boyd. “Together, we unpacked how connection and resiliency are cornerstones not only of winning in football, but of winning in life. We look forward to continuing to work with the RMAC conference office and institutions as RADical Hope has partnered with more than 100 colleges, universities, professional sports teams and community organizations nationwide to deliver its signature program.”

RADical Hope’s education program, RADical Health, is a free 4-week curriculum offered to athletics departments that helps student-athletes strengthen skills related to stress management, self-care, active listening and communication, self-awareness and decision making. Through weekly RADical Health sessions, incoming student-athletes develop practical tools for managing pressure, strengthening communication, and navigating the transition into college athletics. Through its peer-to-peer facilitation model, RADical Health emphasizes connection and skill development, helping students build habits that support both performance and personal well-being throughout their athletic careers and beyond.

“The RMAC is committed to supporting the overall well-being of our student-athletes, and partnering with RADical Hope is an important step in advancing that commitment,” said Danielle Harris, RMAC Commissioner. “Mental health is just as important as physical health, and we’re excited to work alongside RADical Hope to provide our campuses with meaningful education, practical resources, and opportunities that empower our student-athletes to build resilience, strengthen connections, and thrive both in competition and in life.”

RADical Hope will continue working directly with RMAC SAAC’s new mental health subcommittee to help plan and support conference-wide mental health weeks throughout the academic year. RMAC SAAC’s mental health subcommittee, which will elect its first members next week at the RMAC Summer SAAC Retreat, will consist of RMAC SAAC student-athletes and league athletic trainers, guided by RMAC and RADical Hope staff members. Beyond its support of RMAC SAAC initiatives, RADical Hope’s partnership with the league offers further options for programming, resources, and guest speakers to RMAC institutions, elevating mental health support throughout the conference.

To learn more about the RADical Hope Foundation, and its RADical Health curriculum, visit radicalhopefoundation.org and radicalhealth.org.

About the RMAC
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 institutions located in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The RMAC currently competes in 22 NCAA Division II sports, and its members have earned 71 team national championships since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.