NAIA-ATA award humbles long-time Bruin athletic trainer

BELLEVUE, Neb. – It all started in a small side room in the gym with space enough for one training table a desk and a part-time athletic trainer. In the past 15 years, Mike has developed an athletic training program that has graduated multiple students that are now currently working as certified athletic trainers and/or in the medical field. The once, one-man-show, has grown to a student-athletic training body of five on average per year with the addition of a full-time certified assistant athletic trainer implemented two years ago.

Since 1992 Mike Livergood has been Bellevue University's head athletic trainer and this summer will be named the 2007-08 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Athletic Trainer of the Year, at this year's NATA Annual Symposium in St. Louis this June.

“This award is very special and humbling. A lot of people have helped me over the years and their guidance has been invaluable [in] allowing me to obtain this award”, said the long time Bruin athletic trainer.

This honor is given to an individual that is a member in good standing in the NAIA-ATA and the NATA as a certified athletic trainer, is employed by an NAIA institution and has distinguished themselves as a model of the profession of athletic training in personal conduct and professional allied health service to athletes.

When asked if Mike would have imagined the athletic training program being at this level 15 years ago, he stated confidently, “I set a high bar for this program and I expect continued growth for years to come.”

Mike, a Kansas native, earned a Bachelor of Science and Master's degree at Fort Hays State University in 1988 and 1990, respectively. Mike also serves as the Area Chair for Physical Education, and has received his NSCA certification as a CSCS this past year and serves on the NAIA Scholarship awards committee and is the Region IV representative.

Livergood is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, Mid-America Athletic Trainers Association and the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers Association. He shares this award with his wife, Sara, and two sons, Jake and Matt.