University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

History of the KSC/UNK Athletic Training Program

      The Kearney State College (KSC) Athletic Training Program was created in 1963 when Drs. L.R. Smith and B.M. Stevenson established the KSC Sports Medicine Branch to provide sound health care services to the collegiate athletes. Robert Hauver (HPER Instructor, Football and Men’s Track coach), and Les Livingston (HPER Instructor and Men’s Basketball coach) served as the first “Athletic Trainers.” They provided first aid care and rudimentary athletic training services to the KSC athletic teams. The Athletic Training room was located in the men’s locker room with a treatment table and no other equipment.

      From 1964-67, Merwin Roeder (HPER Asst. Professor), assumed the athletic training duties. The Athletic Training room was then moved to a new location with seven treatment tables and a whirlpool. Student “managers” were recruited to assist Dr. Roeder with the taping and first aid responsibilities at that time.
Charles “Chuck” Bolten, RPT, ATC was employed as KSC’s first NATA certified and salaried Athletic Trainer in 1967. He established the first, formal academic courses in athletic training at the institution. He encouraged students to become Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC).

      In 1971, Mike Kostich, ATC assumed the program and continued the tradition of providing sound athletic health care to the KSC athletes, while encouraging students to pursue an interest in the field of Athletic Training through the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Apprenticeship Program.

      Paul Biship, ATC served as Head Athletic Trainer from 1974-1980. He continued to improve the athletic training program by offering both basic and advanced courses in athletic training. Mr. Bishop also took a keen interest in mentoring students in the field of athletic training. By the time of his departure from the program, a tradition of outstanding athletic injury care and athletic training education had been firmly established at the institution. (**NOTE Dr. Paul Bishop continues to serve the institution as a professor of Physical Education and served as a department chairperson for HPER).

      During the years of 1978-1983, Don Rich, ATC (sabbatical interim) and Roger Wells, ATC continued the tradition of athletic training excellence. The Athletic Training facility was expanded to include a rehabilitation area and additional therapeutic equipment.

      Kathleen (Osborn) English, ATC was hired in 1981 as the first full-time assistant and first full-time female for the Athletic Training program. In 1983, she was promoted to Head Athletic Trainer and led the athletic training program until the fall of 1999. In 1990, the athletic training facility was relocated to the new Health and Sports Center and dedicated to Dr. L.R. Smith in 1991. Dr. Smith continued to provide medical coverage as team physician until 1994. Kathy remains on staff with the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) serving as Clinical Coordinator for the Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP).

      The academic program in athletic training was expanded in the last 1980’s to include the first practicum experience courses for students in the field of Athletic Training. Additionally, an endorsement in “Sports Training” was approved by the University for education majors and the student athletic training staff increased to 25-30 members.
The early 1990’s brought a need for the practicum courses to be amended. Formal classes were developed in the domains of administration, modalities, rehabilitation, and certification preparation. Several of these courses were further amended to include formal lab times as well. The athletic training education program continued under the NATA Internship guidelines and produced competent students eligible to sit for the NATA Certification exam. During this time Michael Dalton, ATC (1983-1992), Greg Harper, ATC (1992-1998), Bill Murphy, ATC (1992-present), and Aaron Leu, ATC (1999-2004) all served as assistant athletic trainers.

      Currently, Bill Murphy, ATC is the Head Athletic Trainer for UNK and is leading the largest Athletic Training staff in school history. Roy Stutz, ATC (2005-present) and Victoria du Preez (2009-present) are both currently serving as assistant athletic trainers, (both are UNK athletic training alumni). UNK athletic training employs three Certified Graduate Assistants who assist in sport coverage and some limited teaching in the ATEP program.

      The Athletic Training Education Program at UNK has continued to mature and renew as the field of athletic training has changed. In 1999, Dr. Scott Unruh, ATC was hired to continue the athletic training education progression and direct the movement through the CAAHEP accreditation process. The UNK ATEP was formally accredited in 2001 and has since continued to produce quality athletic training and allied health professionals.