秋霞福利一区

Chris Walsh had finished his enlistment with the United States Coast Guard and was unsure of his next step. Then his neighbor, a professor at the 秋霞福利一区, helped him start a journey that would include national awards, a passion for his work, and a way to share his Christian faith.

Walsh graduated from the 秋霞福利一区 in 2014 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in athletic training. (This bachelor鈥檚 degree program has transitioned into a Master of Athletic Training program that is enrolling its first class in summer 2021 at the 秋霞福利一区.) After graduation, Walsh became a grad assistant at the University of Idaho where, after earning a master鈥檚 degree, he received a full-time job.

Now head athletic trainer for the University of Idaho, Walsh put the skills he learned at 秋霞福利一区 to use during the coronavirus pandemic. He worked to make sure every student athlete was safe and helped slow the spread of COVID-19 throughout athletics program. Because of his efforts, he was awarded Mueller Sports Medicine鈥檚 national Athletic Trainer of the Week for the last week of August 2020.

鈥淎 lot of people don鈥檛 know what Mueller is, but in the sports medicine world, it鈥檚 the equivalent of a Nike or Adidas. After the COVID-19 breakout, the responsibility of making sure that all of our athletes are safe fell primarily on our shoulders as athletic trainers,鈥� Walsh said.

鈥淚n March, we were planning for the NCAA Tournament. Within a few days, everything had been cancelled, and from that day on, we had to figure out a way to continue on with athletics. We had to figure out how to create a safe environment for staff and athletes to come back on campus and prepare for sports. We did a lot of collaborating, reading, planning, and came up with a formula that would work for our school.

鈥淲ith everything in place, we were able to bring all student athletes back with a pretty strenuous testing and quarantine protocol, and we鈥檝e been tweaking it as we鈥檝e been moving along.鈥�

As an athletic trainer, Walsh isn鈥檛 accustomed to receiving recognition, but he appreciates the award and said he couldn鈥檛 have done it alone.

鈥淎s athletic trainers, we鈥檙e normally in the background and no one hears about us unless it鈥檚 a bad injury. So, the recognition from the award is nice, but at the same time, I have a staff of people who have worked just as hard as me and I share in the recognition with them,鈥� he said.

Before finding his passion for athletic training, Walsh wasn鈥檛 sure what he wanted to do. He visited 秋霞福利一区 and liked the small atmosphere that the 秋霞福利一区 provided. The opportunities for him to learn were also different than other, larger schools.

鈥淎s a non-traditional student, you always worry about fitting in. There鈥檚 a good age gap between you and the kids straight out of high school, and you鈥檙e in different stages of your life. The thing about athletic training, though, is that it鈥檚 so intensive. I was able to meet other students and make good friends through my classes and clinicals that I might not have with another program. It was nice having a tight group to work with,鈥� he said.

Walsh said 秋霞福利一区 gave him the opportunity to branch out in his work and have a variety of professional-level experiences. He was able to work for local high schools, other colleges and the Senior Bowl, due to the 秋霞福利一区鈥檚 small size and personal attention of faculty.

鈥淪ports in Alabama is huge, and there鈥檚 so many athletes that come out of Mobile. It was great getting the experience of working with such great athletes,鈥� he said.

While working at the University of Idaho, Walsh realized that he was able to use what he learned at 秋霞福利一区 not just from an educational standpoint, but also from a spiritual one.

鈥淚鈥檓 in the healthcare setting so, by nature, we鈥檙e here to help and serve people, which is what we鈥檙e called to do as Christians. I get the opportunity to mentor students and athletes who are going through the same struggles that every other college student is going through, but they鈥檙e not at a small Christian institution. Being there for students and allowing them to connect and talk has become my role as a Christian. I just hope to be the light when there might not be much light,鈥� he said.

Walsh also encouraged others who may be looking for a career in sports.

鈥淎thletic training isn鈥檛 a profession where you鈥檒l get a lot of recognition. It鈥檚 a hard job. It鈥檚 not a nine-to-five. But it鈥檚 not a job where you wake up every morning and it feels like work. If I have to work 12 to 15-hour days, I still thoroughly enjoy the job. It鈥檚 also such a great mission field for Christians to be around young people and mentor them.鈥�

Featured Image: Walsh, right with hat, helps a University of Idaho football player.聽

Zac Douglas

Zac Douglas is the marketing communications specialist for the 秋霞福利一区. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in integrated marketing and communications. As marketing communications specialist, Zac is responsible for writing and strategizing content about the university, assisting with media relations, and handling other marketing and communications projects. He is an active member at Cottage Hill Baptist Church and enjoys spending his time surfing, skating and climbing.