T&C APRIL 2013 TRAINING-CONDITIONING.COM 8

Announcing our 2013 Winner

Bob Marley University of Texas

Health Science Center at Houston

coaches, and colleagues. For those reasons and more,

Training & Conditioning is proud to present Robert “Bob”

Marley with our 2013 Most Valuable Athletic Trainer Award,

sponsored by Sports Health.

“No matter what role he’s filling, or where he’s working,

Bob just makes things happen,” says Woods, who nominat-

ed Marley for the award. “He is a consummate professional

who wins people over with a disarming charm and an ability

to connect with them interpersonally. If you met him for the

first time, you’d think, ‘This is a great guy.’

“I have never heard anyone say a negative thing about

Bob and I’ve never heard him say anything derogatory about

anyone else,” Woods continues. “He’s very positive in his

approach and that manner is infectious.”

Woods, who is an NATA Most Distinguished Athletic

Trainer and member of the Southwest Athletic Trainers’ As-

sociation (SWATA) Hall of Fame, has known Marley for more

than 30 years. “I’ve worked with the NATA and SWATA for

a long time, and everything Bob does stacks up with what

I’ve seen from the best leaders in those organizations,” says

Woods. “However, he doesn’t stand in front of the cameras

with his chest out—he works behind the scenes to advance

and promote our profession.”

As part of his day job with UTHealth, Marley travels 900 to

The Greater Houston Athletic Trainers’ Society

(GHATS) puts on an athletic training student

workshop every year, and it was Andy Dekaney

High School’s turn to host it two years ago.

Head Athletic Trainer Thomas Woods, MS,

MEd, LAT, ATC, wanted to do something excit-

ing for the students and had the idea to get one

or two members of a helicopter medical crew to

give a presentation.

As many athletic trainers in Houston do when they have

a question, problem, or new idea, Woods turned to Bob

Marley, MA, ATC, LAT, CSCS, Senior Outreach Athletic

Trainer in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the

University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

(UTHealth). Marley sits on the GHATS Advisory Council and

more importantly to Woods, he is someone who will take a

suggestion and run with it.

“When I told Bob my idea, he smiled and said, ‘Let me

see what I can do,’” says Woods. “Not only did the whole

crew show up, they came in a Life Flight helicopter, landing

it at the school, which really wowed the kids and was much

more than I expected. But if anybody could get something

like that done, it’s Bob.”

For Marley, it’s all in a day’s work. His passion for athletic

training has led him to be a leader among his peers, a trust-

ed professional among every student-athlete and coach he

works with, and a steward for the profession. Known as an

approachable and unassuming athletic trainer, he has fash-

ioned a career out of going the extra mile for his athletes,

Nominations for the inaugural Most Valuable Athletic Trainer Award were plentiful and impressive. But one athletic trainer rose above the rest.

By R.J. AndeRson

R.J. Anderson is an Assistant Editor at Training & Conditioning.

He can be reached at: rja@MomentumMedia.com.

Shelly PorSch chetty

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T&C APRIL 2013 9 TRAINING-CONDITIONING.COM

training students choosing athletic training as their college

major and career.”

Marley’s athletic training expertise expands beyond the

many high schools he serves. On Sundays in the fall, you

can find him working the sidelines for the NFL’s Houston

Texans, providing athletic training support during home

games and certain away games. He also works the team’s

preseason training and mini camps.

Somehow, Marley finds time to be an Adjunct Professor

and Co-Coordinator of the Athletic Training Education Pro-

gram at Houston Baptist University, where he began his ath-

letic training career in 1982 after graduating from Michigan

State University with a master’s degree in physical educa-

tion and a specialization in sports medicine. He spent seven

years at HBU, leaving as the school’s Head Athletic Trainer

in 1989 when it chose to de-emphasize athletics and leave

NCAA Division I. Since 2002, Marley has also taught cours-

es in HBU’s School of Nursing and Allied Health.

With so many roles and responsibilities in the Houston

1,000 miles a week, providing sports medicine services to

22 school districts in 10 counties. It is the only access most

of the rural schools have to a sports medicine professional.

In addition to his hands-on work, Marley develops profes-

sional and community education seminars, provides medi-

cal coverage for special events, and assists UTHealth’s

Memorial Hermann Ironman Sports Medicine Institute Out-

reach Program.

Since 1989, Marley has also been a contract Athletic

Trainer for Needville (Texas) High School, where he pro-

vides daily athletic training services and covers most home

athletic contests, as well as all football games. In addition,

he oversees the school’s student athletic training program—

which he started his first year there—and instructs the

coaching staff in CPR, AED, and First Aid certifications.

“Bob goes above and beyond with everything he does

here,” says Needville Athletic Director and Head Football

Coach Jamie Valentine. “He is by far the hardest working

person I know. I have no idea how he balances everything

and is still able to positively affect so many people each and

every day.

“Even though we keep him extremely busy throughout the

year, he still finds time to develop positive relationships with

our athletes, coaches, district employees, and the entire com-

munity,” Valentine continues. “There are not many phones in

our district that do not have Bob’s number on speed dial.”

Valentine says that Marley’s knowledge of injuries and re-

hab is second to none and he always puts the athletes first.

“It amazes me that Bob can know exactly what is wrong and

how to fix it with just a couple of questions and a few simple

tests,” he says. “And it’s not unusual to see him perform re-

hab on some of our injured athletes while getting paperwork

ready for game workers and officials. On top of that, he al-

ways makes time for anyone from our community or staff who

has a question or minor injury that needs attention. And of

course, he’s constantly taping and stretching athletes as they

trickle into the athletic training room.”

Marley has also had a big impact on Needville’s future

generations of athletic trainers. “Our student athletic train-

ing program has grown to be one of the best, if not the best,

in the entire state,” Valentine says. “Bob is a tremendous

mentor and teacher, which has led to several of our athletic

Award Criteria

The Most Valuable Athletic Trainer Award, sponsored by Sports Health, was created to honor high school athletic trainers who have become MVPs by going above and beyond their job duties.

The criteria for the award includes the following:

• Works with high school athletes

• Has earned the respect of coaches they work with and student-athletes they care for

• Goes beyond their job description to support student-athletes

• Puts in extra effort to make the athletic training program the best it can be

• Serves the local or larger community through community service.

High school athletic trainers are often the unsung heroes of interscholastic sports and many work countless hours to help young people become the best they can be. We are excited to honor professionals who put their heart and soul into helping student-athletes on a daily basis.

“No matter what role he’s filling, or where he’s working, Bob just makes things happen. He is a consummate professional who wins people over with a disarming charm and an ability to connect with them interpersonally.”

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T&C APRIL 2013 TRAINING-CONDITIONING.COM­10

“When I started working with the ru-

ral schools, I realized I kept telling

coaches the same things over and

over,” he says. “So I came up with a

couple of booklets that provide infor-

mation on certain topics. They cover

everything from hamstring and quad

strains to criteria for pulling an ath-

lete out of an activity. I tried to make

things very basic by including clear

diagrams and concise descriptions

for best practices.”

Every day Marley also works in a

trip to Needville, either in the morning

or afternoon depending on his driv-

ing itinerary and the schools’ game

schedules. “It’s not unusual for me

to cover a contest at one school on

Thursday night, be at Needville on

Friday, then cover another game at

another school on Saturday.”

And that workload is only the start of

how Marley helps others. He strongly

believes in the power of connecting

people, and in his 30-plus years as

an athletic trainer in the Houston area,

he has accumulated a sizable digi-

tal Rolodex that he uses to share in-

formation, help colleagues find jobs,

and more.

Many of his contacts are organized

into e-mail lists. One includes 725

names and caters to athletic trainers

in Southeast Texas while another in-

cludes about 500 athletic trainers in

and around the Houston area. He also

has a list of high school and college

coaches in the greater Houston area

(Marley is a member of the Texas High

School Coaches Association and the

Greater Houston Football Coaches

Association, serving on its Executive

Board of Directors since 2003) that

he uses to disseminate information

about sports medicine issues and

new practices.

“With the athletic trainer lists, if

somebody tells me they’re looking for

an athletic trainer for an event or they

have a job opening, I forward it to my

list,” Marley says. “Or, if a certain ath-

letic trainer is looking for a job and I’m

alerted to an opening, I can recom-

mend that person right away.”

our doctors. If that athlete has already

seen one, I’ll provide follow-up care

and let the doctor know how that ath-

lete is doing. If they don’t need to see

a doctor, I’ll get them started on a re-

hab protocol.

“It’s neat because those mini clinics

have grown over the years to where

players’ families, the school’s staff,

and even guys who work at the grain

elevator down the street will come in

for an evaluation if they’re hurt,” Mar-

ley adds. “It’s become more than just

a high school outreach program. It’s

now more of a community outreach

program.”

Because his on-site time is so lim-

ited, Marley encourages coaches to

call him anytime they have questions

or concerns, and he has created pam-

phlets that help coaches assess com-

mon injuries and provide initial care.

area, Marley’s weekly schedule is a

geographical puzzle, but that’s how he

likes it. “When you have a passion for

something it’s easier to be organized,”

he says. “If I didn’t love what I’m doing,

I probably wouldn’t be as motivated to

keep on top of everything. Plus, the

variety is one of my favorite aspects

of this job—no two days are ever the

same.”

When it comes to prioritizing

his duties, Marley organizes each

day around his responsibilities to

UTHealth. “Every morning, I leave my

house at about 6:30, travel to a hand-

ful of high schools, and hold mini clin-

ics to evaluate injuries,” says Marley,

who visits each school once a week

and occasionally provides game cov-

erage when it fits his schedule. “If

an athlete is injured, I schedule an

appointment for them to see one of

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Other Honors & Awards

1982 Northwest Missouri State University Wall of Fame

1987 Houston Baptist University Opal Goolsby Outstanding Teacher of the Year

2004 Greater Houston Athletic Trainers’ Society (GHATS) Tom Wilson Service Award

2006 Greater Houston Football Coaches’ Association John Kelley Distinguished Service Award

2011 Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association John Harvey Humanitarian Award

2013 GHATS Logan Wood Award for Meritorious Service

Marley strongly believes in the power of connecting people, and in his 30-plus years as an athletic

trainer in the Houston area, he has accumulated a sizable digital Rolodex that he uses to share

information, help colleagues find jobs, and more.

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T&C APRIL 2013 ­13 TRAINING-CONDITIONING.COM

event each year. “Today, many continu-

ing education opportunities are very

expensive, so we try to present this one

at cost. The Astros have been so good

to us about keeping their fees down

and all of the speakers volunteer their

time for free.”

A huge motivating factor for Mar-

ley is his dedication to giving back.

“Sometimes, I don’t think veteran ath-

letic trainers realize how much we can

help our younger colleagues,” he says.

“My mentors, guys like [NATA Hall of

Famer] Bobby Gunn and [SWATA Hall

Marley also works tirelessly on

sharing information in a more formal

way by hosting or presenting at edu-

cational seminars. One such endeav-

or is UTHealth’s annual “Updates in

Sports Medicine Symposium,” a two-

day event in June featuring a who’s

who of local speakers that Marley

hosts at Minute Maid Park, home of

the Houston Astros. For $150, attend-

ees are able to satisfy some of their

athletic training certification CEU re-

quirements while enjoying presenta-

tions that profile the latest innovations

and information related to sports

health issues.

“It’s not a big fancy event with a ton

of bells and whistles, but athletic train-

ers and physical therapists can come

in and hear from the professionals who

take care of the Texans, the Rockets,

the Astros, the University of Houston,

and HBU,” says Marley, who estimates

that more than 225 people attend the

of Famer] Allen Eggert all helped me

find my way when I was young and it

meant the world to me. I guess I’m

trying to do the same for the younger

men and women on their way up. I

take great pride in helping them find

their niche.

“Any time an athletic trainer who is

new to the area or the profession asks

me for advice, I try to go out of my way

to get them an answer as soon as I

can,” Marley continues. “I was really

impressed when somebody would take

the time to help me when I was young.

“I have a hard time saying no. I feel like if I quit something or turn down a request, I’d be letting someone down. Plus, doing all of the things I’m involved with makes me feel like I’m a part of something bigger.”

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Circle No. 108

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T&C APRIL 2013 TRAINING-CONDITIONING.COM­14

Now, I’m just trying to pay it forward.”

While he enjoys his work with

GHATS, SWATA, and the various

other professional organizations he

contributes to, Marley says the most

rewarding elements of his job center

on his work with young athletes and

the impact he’s able to make on their

lives. “For example, the other day I

walked into a grocery store in one of

the little towns I work in, and a young

man who had graduated a few years

earlier saw me and immediately came

over. He thanked me for helping him

overcome a knee injury when he was

in high school,” says Marley. “He told

me he was doing well, that he had

gone on to play junior college base-

ball, and that he appreciated every-

thing I had done to help him get back

on the field. When somebody remem-

bers you and goes out of their way just

to say thanks, it’s a great feeling.”

From being a fantastic hands-on

healthcare provider to a leader and

advisor among his peers, what drives

Marley to do it all? “I have a hard time

saying no,” he says. “I feel like if I quit

something or turn down a request, I’d

be letting someone down. Plus, do-

ing all of the things I’m involved with

makes me feel like I’m a part of some-

thing bigger, which is what I think ev-

eryone wants.”

With two grown children and a

granddaughter, Marley says he never

would have been able to maintain a

career in athletic training without the

patience, understanding, and com-

plete support of his family, especially

his wife. “If they had been demand-

ing and inflexible, there’s no way I

could have made it in this profession,”

he says. “I also have tried to include

my family in as many work opportuni-

ties as I can—it’s always better when

they’re around. And when I’m home,

I make sure my focus is on spending

time together.”

Marley says he lives by a mantra of:

Work hard, take pride in your work,

and do the right thing. “I think it’s

all about the golden rule—treat peo-

ple the way you want to be treated,”

he says. “And if you tell somebody

you’re going to do something, then

do it. Dropping the ball leaves a last-

ing impression.”

When it comes to lasting impres-

sions, Woods says the positive im-

print Marley leaves is longer than the

Texas highways he travels every day.

“Some people say and do little while

others say and do only what is re-

quired,” Woods says. “Then there is

the rare individual like Bob Marley

who says and does more than you

could hope or expect. I consider my-

self blessed to have him as a friend

and colleague and I am proud that our

profession has people like him lead-

ing the way.” n

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Circle No. 109

We appreciate Bob Marley’s work with the Greater Houston Athletic

Trainers’ Society and congratulate you on winning T&C’s first

Most Valuable Athletic Trainer Award.

281-396-7797Address

www.ghats.org

We truly appreciate the outstanding job you do for our athletes. You are also a tremendous

mentor and teacher of our athletic training students—they couldn’t be in better hands.

In addition to being the best athletic trainer in the busi-ness, you sincerely care about the youth of Needville and take the time to develop strong relationships with our athletes, coaches, NISD staff, and the entire com-munity of Needville.

ThaNk You for the job you do everyday and we are proud to call you a Needville Blue Jay.

Congratulations Doc!

Needville Blue Jay athletic Booster Club

“Blue Jay Never Dies”

Thank you Bob for your service on GHFCA Executive Board

and congratulations on receiving the Most Valuable Athletic Trainer Award!

Your friends at the Great Houston Football Coaches Association.

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