A Coach’s Journey From Loss to Helping Others

Ryan Day grew up with a quiet secret. When he was nine, his father ended his own life in front of him and his brothers. The family kept the pain hidden for many years because talking about mental illness was hard to do back then. Years later, Ryan became the head coach of Ohio State football. In 2019 he and his wife started a fund at Nationwide Children’s Hospital to help people with mental health struggles. He gave the hospital $100, 000 and has kept giving ever since. Ryan’s own story helped him see how important it is to talk openly about feelings. He told his players that mental strength works the same way as physical training: you build it by facing challenges. When a player named Harry Miller admitted he was thinking about suicide, Ryan listened and helped him get professional care.Miller said the coach’s quick response saved his life. Ryan also gave Miller time off from football and kept checking on him. After leaving the team, Miller joined a charity in Nicaragua to bring food and medicine to poor families. He credits Ryan for giving him the chance to change his life. In 2022, Ryan donated a million dollars to Ohio State’s medical center for mental health research. After winning the national championship, he added another million to his fund in 2025. Ryan believes that everyone can feel vulnerable. He wants big athletes to show that even the strongest people need help sometimes. By sharing his story, he hopes others will feel less alone and more willing to seek help.