“We want to be out of the spotlight as much as possible.”
Those are the words of KC Hackman, the head athletic trainer for Taylor Athletics.
When fans see a trainer running onto a court or a field, that means a player has been hurt. An athlete is down with an injury they can’t shake off, and require more serious medical attention.
At Taylor, trainers are far more than just emergency on-field services. Never seeking acknowledgment or a word of thanks, they work in high-pressure scenarios when called upon and, behind the scenes, constantly to help maintain the health of hundreds of athletes.
A Ball State University graduate, Hackman was connected to Taylor through his wife, who played on the Trojans women’s basketball team. Working at Taylor for 25 years, growing and improving medical care for his student-athletes has been a priority for him.
Working with Hackman is lifelong Indiana resident and assistant athletic trainer, Patience Ramsey, who has been working at Taylor and with Hackman for 17 years.
As of Sept. 18, the two of them cover every team, from high-contact, single-season sports like football to sports that take less of a hefty toll on the body like golf and cross-country.
That’s more than 450 athletes playing on various Trojans teams who are taken care of by a duo of athletic trainers. In just a two-hour window, it is not uncommon to have over 70 athletes come through the training room to receive medical attention, from rehabilitation to check-ins.
“The philosophy of athletic training has changed,” Hackman said. “It used to be reactionary. Now there’s a lot more thought going into the preventative aspect of it…and we give coaches ideas on (an athlete’s) recovery.”
Fall is their busiest time of year. With sports like soccer, football and volleyball in-season while basketball and other winter and spring teams are beginning to practice, coordination and communication are key for Hackman and Ramsey to ensure that every athlete isn’t just seen, but is cared for.
“We’re just striving to make sure that our athletes are getting the best treatment that they can,” Ramsey said. “We want our athletes to be giving their best effort when they’re on the field, or court, or track, so we try to give them the best that we can.”
The trainer’s season may get lighter throughout the year as sports gradually slow down, but often they will stay in contact with athletes who have injuries that last longer than the school year. Their care doesn’t stop when the final whistle of the year blows.
Over the years, different trainers have arrived and departed from Taylor, but Hackman and Ramsey have stayed. Both of them give compliments to the environment of Taylor, the athletes and the Athletic department as a reason to stay.
“It’s hard to describe, in a way, when you feel so led to be in a certain place,” Ramsey said. “That place is special and it helps keep you close to the things that are also important to you outside of your job, it makes the decision to stay here easy.”
Without ever asking for a word of praise from players, parents or coaches, they always aid and keep the hundreds of athletes of Taylor University at their peak. The point is not to be noticed.
“We don’t expect recognition,” Hackman said. “We usually try to shy and avoid it. The most rewarding aspect of this job is when you have an athlete who you help off the field. They have a season-ending injury, and there’s tears and you’re comforting them and you’re trying to speak encouragement into their life and then you get to see that same athlete…run on the field. That’s why we do this.”
