Gary Johnson named head football athletic trainer
June 22, 2009 | Football
The Wisconsin football staff welcomes a new addition this season as Gary Johnson joins the team as the head football athletic trainer. Johnson comes to Wisconsin after spending the past four seasons as the head athletic trainer at Arizona State University.
Johnson is no stranger to the UW campus as he earned his degree from Madison in 1985. After completing his bachelor's degree in physical therapy at Wisconsin in 1985, Johnson earned his master's degree in athletic training at Indiana University in 1987. While at Indiana, Johnson worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer and worked with the school's football and wrestling teams.
'It's great to have Gary on board,' head coach Bret Bielema said. 'I liked the fact that he spent time at Wisconsin as an undergrad and he has gained some terrific experience during the course of his career. He had expressed an interest in moving back to the Midwest and what better place for him and his family than Wisconsin.'
While at Arizona State, Johnson oversaw a staff of seven staff athletic trainers, 11 graduate assistant athletic trainers and 10 intern students. He provided medical care for all 22 athletic teams with primary responsibilities toward the football program. In addition, Johnson served as the accredited clinical instructor for the Northern Arizona University Athletic Training Education Program.
Before taking the job with the Sun Devils, Johnson was the head athletic trainer at San Diego State University from 1993-2005. He oversaw 17 athletic teams with an emphasis on football. He also served as a member of the Athletic Director's senior administrative staff.
Prior to his time with the Aztecs, Johnson was the assistant athletic trainer and the assistant director of physical therapy at Purdue University. While there he served as trainer for the school's football, men's basketball, wrestling, and men 's and women's track and field teams.
Johnson has been certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association, the Arizona Athletic Training Board and the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He has also been certified as a physical therapist and is CPR and ASTYM-certified.
He has professional affiliations with the National Athletic Trainers Association, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Trainers Association and the Arizona Athletic Trainers Association.
Countdown to kickoff (Sept. 5)
- sportid=111&storyid=18196"> --> Day 80 (with links to days 100-81): Three and out with Dan Moore
- sportid=111&storyid=18200"> --> Day 79: Student football and men's hockey ticket sales starts Monday
- sportid=111&storyid=18209"> --> Day 78: Badgers in the NFL page updated
- sportid=111&storyid=18217"> --> Day 77: Top 10 moments of the Bret Bielema era
- sportid=111&storyid=18222"> --> Day 76: Video of the Week: Coach's Corner
