Tag: Valdosta State University

Posted on by

Valdosta State’s Bobby Tucker Joins Georgia Hall of Fame

Article reposted from The Valdosta Daily Times
Author: The Valdosta Daily Times

The Georgia Athletic Trainers Association (GATA) announced the induction of Charles R. (Bobby) Tucker, licensed athletic trainer and certified athletic trainer, to its Hall of Fame on Wednesday — the highest honor given by the association.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at the GATA annual conference in Macon on Jan. 20.

The bulk of Tucker’s career has been spent at Valdosta State University, where he has served many roles in his time there, beginning as a student manager/athletic trainer from 1970-75.

Tucker returned to VSU as a men’s assistant basketball coach in 1978 and served in the role until 1986, when he began a 20-year run as an athletic trainer and professor for the school.

In 1990, “Coach Tucker” as he is known at VSU took on the job of faculty athletic representative for the athletic department before also becoming the department’s compliance director in 2006, all while continuing to teach for the university and serve as an athletic advisor.

He retired from Valdosta State in 2014, but Tucker continues to help out in the athletic department as an advisor. That same year, he was inducted into the Valdosta State Athletics Hall of Fame. Tucker received the GATA’s Warren Morris Sports Medicine Person of the Year Award in 2007.

The Georgia Athletic Trainers’ Association is an organization committed to education of its members and enhancement of the profession of athletic training, leading to better healthcare for the population which it serves. The GATA is proudly composed of licensed athletic trainers in many different settings.

Over 1000 licensed athletic trainers from professional, collegiate, and high school teams to industries, physician offices, and rehabilitation clinics all work together to promote and practice the profession of athletic training within the state of Georgia.

Posted on by

Jay Johnson set to take over as Head AT at Valdosta

Article reposted from Valdosta Today.com
Author: Valdosta Today.com

The Valdosta State Athletic Department is held in high regard in the profession of athletic training, and that reputation is expected to carry on under the leadership of Jay Johnson, who was recently announced as Blazer Athletics’ newest Head Athletic Trainer by Athletic Director Herb Reinhard.

“I am really excited about having Jay join our team,” said Reinhard on Tuesday. “Jay is a graduate of our athletic training program and was a part of our athletic training staff for our 2004 football national championship team, so he has a really good understanding of Valdosta State.”

Having served as a Head Athletic Trainer at Georgia Southwestern for four years before taking over the head position at Florida Tech in 2011, Johnson brings over 10 years of experience in the position to Valdosta State. His roots run deep at VSU, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Medicine and Athletic Training under the tutelage of departing Head Athletic Trainer Russ Hoff, whom Johnson refers to as a mentor.

“The Head Athletic Trainer job at Valdosta State is a dream job for me,” said Johnson. “I spent all of my undergrad years in Valdosta and graduated in 2005. One of the things that drew me to the university then was athletics. I knew nothing about athletic training when I first came to VSU, but by the time I graduated, the incredibly high standards of professionalism instilled in me a great pride to be a part of something as special as what has been developed at Valdosta State.”

Following his graduation from VSU, Johnson achieved a Masters degree in Health and Physical Education with a concentration in Health Promotion at Georgia College and State University, which prepared him for a smooth transition into the start of his professional career at Georgia Southwestern.

During his career, Johnson has served as a member of both the Georgia Athletic Trainers Association while at Georgia Southwestern and the Athletic Training Association of Florida since his move to Florida Tech. Johnson has also been a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association since 2005.

While at Florida Tech, Johnson brought tremendous growth to the program. In addition to personally authoring all of Florida Tech’s sports medicine policies and procedures, he oversaw the growth of the institution’s expansion from three to six full-time athletic trainers. Furthermore, Johnson took responsibility for each of Florida Tech’s 24 varsity sports, while helping to develop a community among athletic trainers throughout the Space Coast region.

“Jay’s experience as the head athletic trainer at Georgia Southwestern and then for the last six years at Florida Tech has prepared him well to take over the reins at VSU,” added Reinhard. “He has overseen the growth and development of the athletic training department at Florida Tech in conjunction with their recent addition of football, and that experience is most valuable.”

“The legacy of Valdosta State athletic training is not something I take lightly,” concluded Johnson. “I am humbled to have this opportunity. I look forward to the years ahead, and I look forward to being able to work with the great athletic trainers and staff at this great institution.”

Johnson, along with his wife Michelle, will move to Valdosta in the weeks ahead and will officially take over his position at Valdosta State on July 1st.

Posted on by

Russ Hoff Shifts to New Position at Valdosta State

Article reposted from Valdosta State Blazers
Author: Valdosta State Blazers

The Athletic Training program will look to fill a huge void in the weeks to come, as longtime Director of Sports Medicine Russ Hoff will transition into an alternate role at Valdosta State as a full-time faculty member in the Department of Health Sciences within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

The Valdosta State Athletic Training program has established itself as one of the top Division II programs in the country during the last several decades, and Hoff’s leadership has played an immeasurable role in earning that reputation. Hoff joined the Valdosta State Athletics staff in 1997 and began a run of 20 years, during which he complemented his head athletic trainer role with numerous other responsibilities, including course instruction and the guiding of independent studies and internships. He also served on a multitude of committees during his time at Valdosta State.

“Russ is a giant in the field of athletic training and we have been blessed to have him as our head athletic trainer for the last 20 years,” said Valdosta Stated Athletic Director Herb Reinhard. “While I am disappointed that Russ will be leaving his head athletic trainer position and no longer be a part of VSU Athletics, I am pleased that he will continue with the university and I know that the students that he will teach will greatly benefit from his experience. The health and well-being of student-athletes is a priority for athletic programs and we have been lucky to have one of the very best responsible for the student-athletes at VSU.”

Hoff began his career in collegiate athletics as the Assistant Professor in the department of Health and Sports Sciences at Capital University in 1987. During his ten years at Capital, his efforts caught statewide attention, as he was named the Ohio Athletic Trainer of the Year in 1993. The trend continued after his transition to VSU, when he earned another Athletic Trainer of the Year honor in the state of Georgia in 2001. In 2005, recognition extended to the national stage when Hoff was named the NCAA Division II Head Athletic Trainer of the Year.
Hoff has given countless presentations at prestigious universities and events throughout the southeast. In addition, he has provided written media contributions to Football Coaches Quarterly magazine and has overseen multiple sponsored research projects related to concussions and nutritional analysis. His work has been a tremendous asset to Valdosta State Athletics and has helped student-athletes reach their goals and perform at an optimal level year in and year out throughout the last 20 years.

“The decision to transition to a full-time faculty member and give up my athletic responsibilities was more difficult than I anticipated,” said Hoff in a recent statement. “Valdosta State University is a great place and I am grateful for what it has meant to me and my family. The timing was right and I look forward to the transition to full time teaching. The relationships you make with staff, graduate assistants, students, and student-athletes is what I will miss most, but I am grateful that I will continue to be able to experience those relationships in the classroom.”

Hoff will conclude his role with Valdosta State Athletics at the end of June.

The Valdosta State Athletic Department will begin a search next week for its next Head Athletic Trainer. Stay tuned to www.vstateblazers.com for application information.