Nathan Barger

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

What teams have you worked with? I work exclusively with the UTC football program but am heavily involved in the day-to-day care of all student-athletes at UTC. When I started my athletic training career in 2013, I worked at East Tennessee State University. Each team and group of athletes I have covered has been unique and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Describe what your average day looks like. An average day at UTC starts early. I wake up every day by 3:30 a.m. to work out and prepare for the day. I arrive at work by 5:30 a.m. Depending on the time of year, our doors open around 6 a.m. to begin treatment and taping. During the morning hours, we will perform treatments, transport athletes to doctor appointments, and cover practice. Our afternoons consist of post-practice treatments, doctor appointments, and administrative work.

What's the most rewarding aspect of being an athletic trainer? The most rewarding aspect of the job is seeing student-athletes achieve their goals. There is no better feeling than watching a student-athlete walk across the stage at graduation or returning to the field of competition after an injury.

What are some common misconceptions people have about the profession? I think one of the biggest misconceptions is the actual role of an athletic trainer. When I started most thought of us as “water boys.” I think this mentality has changed drastically as the profession has grown. Of course, we do take care of hydration, practice, and game setup for athletes, but athletic trainers do so much more. Athletic trainers are also sport-specific rehabilitation specialists, medical liaisons to doctors, friends, mentors, and administrators. Athletic trainers serve as the front line for triaging all healthcare needs for our athletes.

In your opinion, what makes a good athletic trainer? A good athletic trainer must possess the necessary clinical skills to identify, treat, and rehabilitate injuries. However, a GREAT athletic trainer must care and effectively communicate with all parties. A coach once told me, “These kids don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.” These words transcend the work we do with student-athletes.

What's one piece of advice that you have for someone considering entering the athletic training field? The field of athletic training must be more than a job. It has to be a passion – something you love and enjoy. It is a privilege to work with athletes and share in their trials and victories. I would also stress to those going into the athletic training profession to find some semblance of work-life balance early on in their career. We are seeing too many athletic trainers leaving the profession because of burnout.