Article reposted from University of North Florida
Author: North Florida Athletics
University of North Florida Director of Athletics Lee Moon announced the hiring of David McDonald (M.Ed., ATC, LAT, NASM-PES, CES) as the Head Athletic Trainer for the UNF Sports Medicine department.
McDonald comes to UNF following one year as an assistant athletic trainer for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). During his time with the Vaqueros, McDonald primarily worked with the men’s basketball program along with other sports teams as needed.
“We are fortunate to have David taking over our sports medicine department and working with our men’s basketball program,” said Moon. “He brings a great work ethic, an enthusiastic personality and proven experience working with basketball teams. He has worked for several different basketball programs and comes with high praise from all the coaching staffs, and that is not an easy group to please. We are looking forward to him continuing to enhance and support the student-athlete experience for our current and future Ospreys.”
At North Florida, McDonald’s primary responsibility will be working with the men’s basketball team while also providing oversight for the entire sports medicine department. In addition, he will have a role with UNF Athletics’ senior leadership group.
“I am very excited about coming aboard with the University of North Florida family,” said McDonald. “I want to thank Coach Moon and Coach Driscoll for this opportunity to lead the Athletic Training Department. It is my goal and intention to continue the quality work that Fred Burnett and the current sports medicine staff have created and upheld. Everyone in the Athletic Department and University have welcomed myself and my family with open arms. We are excited to make UNF and the city of Jacksonville our home.”
Prior to UTRGV, McDonald served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine and Head Athletic Trainer at Loyola University Chicago. He was responsible for the men’s basketball program and supervision of a sports medicine staff of six certified athletic trainers and two physical therapists.
During the summer of 2014, he worked as an athletic trainer for the Adidas Unrivaled Top 100 Men’s Basketball Camp in Chicago, Ill.
McDonald also spent time at Oregon State University as an assistant athletic trainer, working primarily with the women’s volleyball and men’s crew teams. He began his career with a three-year stint at Lamar University as an assistant athletic trainer. He was also responsible for teaching multiple first aid and athletic training classes in the University’s Health and Kinesiology Department.
McDonald began gaining experience in athletic training as student trainer at Oklahoma State, where he worked with several programs, including the men’s basketball and football teams. After earning his bachelor’s degree in athletic training, McDonald moved on to TCU, where he served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for two years, working with their football team while earning his master’s degree in educational administration.
McDonald also spent the summer of 2006 as an athletic training intern with the Arizona Cardinals.
McDonald is a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) and Licensed in the State of Texas. He is also a Licensed Athletic Trainer (LAT) in the state of Illinois and Registered in the State of Oregon. He holds additional Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) and Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) advanced specializations through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
He was the District 4 (GLATA) Chair for the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee (EDAC). Previously he was a member of the District 6 (SWATA) College and University Athletic Trainers Committee (CUATC). Currently, he is an active member of SWATA, NATA, and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).
Originally from Paris, Texas, McDonald is married to the former Gabby Curtis and the couple is expecting their first child in July.