Article reposted from Academy of Art University
Author: Academy of Art University
Following the departure of longtime head athletic trainer Karmont Mak, Academy of Art University has officially announced the hiring of three full-time staff members in Laz Cardenas, Kevin Williams, and Katie Straughn. Cardenas will serve as the new head athletic trainer while Williams and Straughn have both been elevated to assistant athletic trainers.
Cardenas moves into his seventh year with Academy of Art Athletics this fall, taking on the new position after previously working as an assistant athletic trainer since 2010. Over that time, he worked closely with Mak to develop the ART U Sports Medicine department into a four-person staff that services over 200 athletes from the Knights’ 16 sports teams.
“I feel very grateful to have been given the opportunity to become head athletic trainer at Academy of Art,” said Cardenas. “It’s extremely exciting to have Kevin and Katie hired on as it will provide us more widespread coverage when caring for our athletes.”
Cardenas is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and a certified Performance Enhancement Specialist by the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Williams, who finished his second season as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with Academy of Art this past spring, recently received his Master of Arts in Athletic Training from the San Jose State University. With the Urban Knights over the past two years, Williams has served as the trainer for men’s soccer and softball while assisting with all 16 sports. His familiarity with the PacWest Conference dates back to 2011-2014 when he was an athletic training student at Point Loma.
Williams is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association and American Heart Association CPR/AED certified.
Straughn, who is currently part of the same Graduate Athletic Training Program at San Jose State University, recently wrapped up her first season as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with the Urban Knights. A 2015 graduate from Oregon State, Straughn worked with ART U women’s soccer and baseball in addition to helping with all 16 sports.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to continue working with Academy of Art,” said Straughn. “The Sports Medicine department has always felt like a family and it is great to have the chance to expand my time with the department past next year. Even though our roles will not change too much, I am excited to take on more of an administrative role.”
Straughn is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association and American Heart Association First Aid and CPR certified.
Cardenas, Williams, and Straughn begin in their new roles effective this week.
“I think the main goal for our Sports Medicine department is to continue to help keep our student-athletes healthy and safe,” said Straughn. “With three full-time staff members, we will better be able to manage our hours in the athletic training room and expand our knowledge on different techniques.”