The athletic training staff is vital to the health and success of the more than 400 student-athletes participating in 19 intercollegiate programs at the University of Hawai'i.
The athletic training staff is headed by two of the most tenured trainers in the country. Eric Okasaki and Melody Toth have a combined 55 years of experience in the field of athletic training. The staff is responsible for the care, prevention, evaluation, and rehabilitation for each of the student-athletes in their respective athletic programs.
To complement Okasaki and Toth are assistant trainers Jayson Goo and Tara Humphreys. In addition, a number of graduate assistants help in the overall operation of the athletic training office. All are certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and travel with the various athletic programs.
"We're very fortunate that the school is able to send a certified trainer with most teams while they travel," Toth said. "Trainers are there to give medical attention, but it's more than that. Athletes are a long way from home and the trainers fill the need of a family member who cares for them as a person, both mentally and physically, and not just another number."
The athletic training facilities are abundant around the lower campus. The Makai training room houses the football, swimming and diving, water polo and cheerleading programs. The Mauka training room serves the cross country, golf, sailing, soccer, softball, tennis, and track and field programs. There is also a training facility each at Les Murakami Stadium, which serves the needs of the baseball team, and the Stan Sheriff Center, which handles the men's and women's volleyball and basketball teams. In addition, the athletic training staff sets up a temporary facility at Aloha Stadium for home football games.
Each facility is equipped with the latest technological resources on injury prevention and rehabilitation. Isokinetic and cardiovascular machines, electrical modalities and X-ray units are also available. In addition, weights, total gym, and whirlpools aid in the complete rehabilitation of the student-athlete.
Another purpose of the athletic training staff is to assist the Kinesiology and Leisure Science (KLS) program in allowing students to work on their master's degrees at the University and NATA certifications. Nearly 20 student trainers are on board each year assisting the staff and gaining experience in the field of athletic training.
"The graduate and undergraduate students serve as a backbone of our athletic training staff," Okasaki said. "They assist in the daily operation of the athletic training rooms, which allows us to provide a higher standard of care to our student-athletes at the University."
The athletic training staff also includes a medical team composed of team physicians Dr. Andrew Nichols and Dr. Michele LaBotz, and a number of consultants from the University's School of Medicine. They attend most UH-hosted events to provide assistance to the athletic training staff. The medical team conducts general physicals and orthopedic examinations on each student-athlete to ensure they meet the minimum requirements necessary to compete in Division I athletics.
