New Head Trainer

Richard Bennett Named Head Athletic Trainer

PORTLAND, Ore. --- The University of Portland announced the hiring of Richard Bennett as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Pilots, Athletic Director Larry Williams announced on Monday. Bennett spent the previous three years as the Head Athletic Trainer at St. Bonaventure in New York.

“Richard stood out among an impressively large and talented pool of applicants for this position,” Williams said. “He is transitioning from a very similar institution and will be a great fit for our University. He has a real passion for the profession and a number of skills and experiences that will serve us well in our pursuit of success.”

A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Bennett is a member of the National Athletic Trainer's Association, the New York Athletic Trainers Society, and the Collegiate Athletic Trainers Society.

“I am extremely excited to join the University of Portland family,” Bennett said. “I look forward to providing championship level health care to all of our student-athletes."

Bennett served as the primary athletic trainer for men's basketball, women's soccer and women's lacrosse with the Bonnies, while also overseeing men's and women's tennis and men's golf at SBU. In addition, Bennett served as an adjunct professor in the Physical Education Department where he taught PHED 208 – Prevention and Care of Athletic Injury, a mandatory course for all physical education majors. He also began an internship program with athletic training students at Alfred University.

Prior to his stint at SBU, Bennett was an assistant athletic trainer for three years at the University at Albany serving as the primary athletic trainer for men's soccer, men's basketball (2006 America East Champions), and men's lacrosse (2004 & 2006 America East Champion). He served as interim head athletic trainer for a six month period before accepting the position at SBU.

In April of 2003, Bennett completed his Master's degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in Sports Management/Sports Administration at Eastern Michigan University. While studying at EMU, he also worked with the football, women's soccer, men's and women's track and field, and women's gymnastics programs. He also served as an Accredited Clinical Instructor (ACI) for EMU's CAAHEP accredited athletic training program and served as the athletic training coverage coordinator for all of EMU summer camps.

In May of 2000, Bennett graduated from Boston University's Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences CAAHEP accredited Athletic Training program. Throughout his studies, he completed internships with Bentley College, Harvard University, Milton Academy, and the University at Albany.

Bennett has also spent time in the private setting working as a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) for Thomas Nicola Physical Therapy providing outreach coverage to area high schools and industrial settings.