Assistant Athletic Director for Sport Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer - Valparaiso University

Position Description:

The Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine/Head AthleticTrainer provides overall leadership to, and ensures the integration of, Sports Medicine(including the relationship with team physicians and oversight of all athletic trainers),Strength and Conditioning, Student-Athlete Insurance, Nutrition, and Mental Health Services. Compliance with NCAA, Missouri Valley Conference, University policies, and legal requirements related to student-athlete well-being is a critical aspect of the position. In addition, this position will serve as the primary athletic trainer for the Men’s Basketball Program.

Major Responsibilities:

• Develop programs for the delivery of integrated and comprehensive health care,mental health, strength and conditioning, sport science, and nutrition services forValparaiso University student‐athletes who participate on 18 intercollegiatesport programs, including, but not limited to:
  • Assure processes are in place for appropriate Pre‐Participation evaluationand screening of student‐athletes;
  • Ensure prompt, effective, and coordinated emergency care for acute injuries;
  • Oversee and train staff that works to prevent, evaluate, manage, treat andrehabilitate athletic injuries including forming relationships with teamphysicians and specialists who will provide world-class treatment to our student-athletes;
  • Provide nutrition education and enhancement and serve as a differentiatorin recruiting;
  • Ensure sport‐specific strength and conditioning and performanceoptimization;
  • Develop a plan to provide mental health services that spans the spectrumof care ranging from debilitating emotional distress to performanceoptimization;
  • Create comprehensive rest, recovery, and regeneration strategies and initiatives;
  • Create a program for lifetime wellness services for student‐athletes;
• Assess training loads, neuromuscular fatigue, athlete readiness, and other performance factors;
  • Evaluate technology related to sports science, recordkeeping and other and make recommendations regarding the adoption of such technology
  • Recruit, retain and evaluate exceptional athletic training, strength conditioning, and nutrition personnel; establish and maintain continuingeducation to include requirements of relevant certification and licensing for all
    team members
  • Provide oversight to the medical insurance program for student-athletes, includingstrategic review and creation of long-term plan to contain costs; serve as theliaison to the third-party administrator and insurance broker
  • Supervise the organization, administration, and maintenance of documentationand record keeping, including the use of electronic medical records asappropriate, and preserving confidentiality in compliance with HIPAA and/or
    FERPA
  • Oversee the maintenance, organization, administration, inventory, and staffing ofathletic training and strength and conditioning facilities
  • Evaluate and implement academic programs that are a mutual benefit to thewellbeing of student-athletes and the academic pursuits of faculty and students, such as in sport science and data analytics
  • Develop, implement and regularly review all policies and procedures pertaining tostudent-athlete health and performance, and monitor and ensure compliance withall policies and procedures of the NCAA, the MVC, and Valparaiso University

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in exercise science, kinesiology, health careadministration, or related field required
• 3-5 years of experience working with integrated high performance and high-level athletes
• Detail-oriented, organized and an ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Must have strong interpersonal and communication skills to interact with adiverse group of internal and external constituents
• Adherence to professional standards of care, NCAA and member conference rulesand regulations
• The successful candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background check
• The successful candidate will be required to obtain First Aid, CPR, motor vehiclesafety certification, and other job-related certifications

Successful applicants will demonstrate a commitment to cultural diversity and the ability to work with individuals or groups from diverse backgrounds.

All offers of employment with Valparaiso University are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check. Background checks may include criminal history, motor vehicle reports, prior employment verification, and personal/professional references. If applicable to the position, background checks will also include credit history. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates for employment.

To be considered for this position, you must upload:

• Cover letter

• Resume

• List of 3 professional references

• Answer all application questions

Please address the cover letter to:

Merce Poindexter, Sr. Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Welfare & Compliance

Valparaiso University

Required Skills


Required Experience