POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Assistant Director of Athletics Health, Wellness, Medical and Rehabilitation Services
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 5678
GRADE 46
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Director of Athletics
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Assistant Director of Athletics Health, Wellness, Medical and Rehabilitation Services is responsible for the management, coordination and administration of all aspects of injury/illness prevention, recognition, evaluation, management, treatment, disposition, rehabilitation, and health care education and counseling for student-athletes participating in the intercollegiate athletics program and develops health care policies and procedures regarding medical insurance, physical examinations, medical services, and related activities to ensure that the University has a total health care plan for its student-athletes. This position supervises a staff of professional athletic trainers and directs the allocation of athletic training and related medical care resources to support a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level program in seventeen men’s and woman’s sports.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Master's degree in Sports Medicine, Athletic Training, or a related field is required.
Experience: At least three years of experience is required in progressively responsible positions in intercollegiate athletic training, preferably as a Head Athletic Trainer. Any athletic trainer experience at a NCAA Division I level program is preferred.
Skills: Strong oral and written communications skills as well as excellent interpersonal skills are required. Management, organizational, and administrative skills related specifically to athletic training program are required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required. Computer literacy in word processing and database management is preferred.
Effort: Requires the capability to physically transport injured athletes (e.g., to the locker room, sidelines, ambulance) in order to receive further medical care.
License: Must be certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and must be registered with the Board of Healing Arts in the state of Missouri.
Other: The scope of the position requires frequent evening and weekend/holiday work as well as frequent overnight, out-of-town travel to accompany athletic teams to away contests.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Ensures that Athletic, Medical, and Rehabilitation Services provides quality athlete care for student-athletes participating in the intercollegiate athletics program through management of all aspects of injury/illness prevention, recognition, evaluation, management, treatment, disposition, and rehabilitation, coordination of all medical health care efforts (i.e., health care providers, physicians, emergency services) necessary to support the intercollegiate athletics program, and administration of the daily operational requirements of the Athletic, Medical, and Rehabilitation Services program.2. Enables the intercollegiate athletics program to provide a practical medical health care insurance program to student-athletes by contracting for an umbrella medical health care plan for all student-athletes participating in the intercollegiate athletics program, developing administrative and management procedures for processing of medical claims, and disbursing of claims payments.
3. Minimizes institutional liability regarding injuries/illness sustained by student-athletes participating in the intercollegiate athletics program by coordinating with health care providers, parents, University administration, coaching staff, and insurance providers in the development and publication of health care policies and procedures which specify requirements for medical health care insurance, physical medical examinations, and total health care of the student-athletes.
4. Enables student-athletes to return to full physical function by receiving quality treatment which includes assessing the nature of their injuries, their range of motion, strength and other physical parameters, making referrals to physicians as appropriate, enforcing the prescribed treatment protocols of physicians using all appropriate therapeutic modalities and exercises, maintaining accurate patient records, evaluating their rehabilitative progress, and providing feedback to student-athletes, appropriate coaches, parents, and physicians.
5. Facilitates student-athletes compliance with prescribed rehabilitative treatments by educating them about the causes and nature of their injuries through the use of models or diagrams and measures they can take to prevent recurrences, providing a thorough explanation of the reasons for and functions of the rehabilitative therapies, assisting student-athletes in correct performance of the therapies and exercises, evaluating their progress during rehabilitation, and providing the student-athletes with feedback.
6. Minimizes institutional liability in the performance of athletic training services by maintaining proper and current licensure and practicing in accordance with the Missouri Board of Healing Arts.
7. Maintains individual professional competence and expands the knowledge base and ability of the Athletic, Medical, and Rehabilitation Services to serve the intercollegiate athletics program by encouraging staff members to take advantage of professional development and continuing education opportunities, attending professional development seminars, workshops and related activities, reading the literature published in professional journals and texts, and sharing the information gathered from these professional activities with other staff professionals and student-athletes.
8. Manages funds by developing an annual department budget for Athletic, Medical, and Rehabilitation Services and exercising expenditure authority for the budget.
9. Commit to a consensus based care, educational and services model for student athletes per NCAA guidelines.
10. Attest that Missouri State Department of Athletics is in compliance with the best practices as it relates to inter-association mental health, cardiac care, concussion safety protocols, independent medical care and standards for preventing catastrophic injury and illness.
11. Develops a competent and effective staff of athletic trainers by recruiting and hiring qualified applicants, providing training on departmental policies and procedures, making staff assignments based upon qualifications, providing the resources necessary for staff members to accomplish their assigned duties, supervising and managing work assignments, and evaluating performances.
12. Secondarily to providing care for athletes and at the direction of the Director of Athletics, provides clinical education experiences for students enrolled in the University's Sports Medicine and Athletic Training Curriculum by supervising students working in sports medicine and/or athletic training environments at training facilities or with athletic teams, evaluating student performances and assessing their application of appropriate treatments, therapeutic modalities, and psycho-motor skills, and serving as a resource for students regarding the Sports Medicine and Athletic Training Curriculum.
13 Contributes to the educational mission of the University by serving as an academic affiliate.
14. Abides by and complies with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Missouri Valley Conference rules, academic standards, requirements, and policies of the University, and all guidelines and policies of the Athletics department and reports any concerns of compromise or violation of rules, standards, guidelines or policies to the Director of Athletics or the Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance.15. Facilitates a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
16. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development training, and attending training and/or courses as directed by the Director of Athletics.
17. Contributes to the overall success of the intercollegiate athletics program by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Assistant Director of Athletics Health, Wellness, Medical and Rehabilitation Services supervises a staff of professional athletic trainers, student athletic trainers, student assistants, and administrative support staff.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED JULY 2023
