草莓社区 has announced the retirement of longtime Head Athletic Trainer聽Mike Downey. He is in his 30th year at the school, and will finish his duties on Dec. 31.
Originally contracted through RMH Rehab Services as Eastern Mennonite鈥檚 first certified athletic trainer in 1989, Downey said the time was right to step away.
鈥淐ollegiate athletic training is demanding with regard to work-life balance,鈥� he said. 鈥淕iven the current work environment and what COVID-19 brings to the equation with respect to the 2021 Spring athletic schedule, I feel it is in my family’s best interest if I opt-out at this time by retiring. It has been a long journey and quite an experience for me. I am grateful that EMU provided me with an opportunity to share my life’s work with so many student-athletes and athletic training students over the last three decades.鈥�
Director of Athletics Dave King was thankful for Downey鈥檚 work with the Royals teams.
鈥淭hirty years of providing support, often behind-the-scenes, for student-athletes, coaches and teams is a significant achievement and I am deeply grateful for all that Mike has done for the athletic department,鈥� said King. 鈥淗e is very deserving of the personal and family time that retirement brings and I wish him nothing but the best. And there are hundreds, if not thousands of former athletes who would join me in expressing thanks for a job well done.鈥�
After a two-year stint at nearby Spotswood High School, Downey returned to EMU as the full-time head athletic trainer in 2001. He has also taught in the EMU Physical Education Department.
During his time at EMU, Downey has seen and traveled with the Royals teams to many of the biggest athletic moments in school history, including the field hockey team鈥檚 trip to the NCAA Final Four in 1995, a tournament trip with the men鈥檚 soccer team in 1998, NCAA-qualifying seasons for men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball, men鈥檚 volleyball hosting the Final Four in 2004, and recently retired MLBer Erik Kratz earning back-to-back ODAC Player of the Year awards in 2001 and 2002.
Downey is also a preceptor for the James Madison Athletic Training Education Department.
鈥淚 would say one of the most rewarding feelings looking back over all the years is that I had the opportunity to share a D-III athletic training experience with nearly 100 athletic training students from JMU,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur preceptor/internship relationship with JMU has gone on for many years and I enjoyed being able to help students learn and experience our unique medical care environment.鈥�
King pointed out that Downey has been a driving force in keeping EMU鈥檚 training room in step with growth in the athletic department and changes in the industry.
鈥淢ike is responsible for the development of the athletic training services that were needed for the expanding athletic program over the past 30 years,鈥� King said. 鈥淔rom a one-person department to a team of three full-time trainers, a team physician, JMU athletic training interns, and work study students, Mike’s leadership has allowed us to maintain the quality care for athletes that he established many years ago. I often hear appreciation for Mike from former athletes as they reflect on their EMU experience and recognize the value of his care during their athletic pursuits.鈥�
鈥淧roviding athletic health care services has been rewarding and I would like to thank the many physicians who helped our AT staff care for the needs of the athletes,鈥� Downey added. 鈥淭here have been many over the years but most recently the partnership with Sentara Sports Medicine and the work of Dr. Ben Mwanika cannot be overlooked. Dr. Ben has been a pleasure to work with as our team physician.鈥�
King said the search for Downey鈥檚 replacement to join Carleen Overacker and Ian Smith in the athletic training room would begin immediately.