BUFFALO, NY - The New York State Athletic Trainers’ Associations (NYSATA) recently inducted Canisius head athletic trainer Andy Smith into the NYSATA Hall of Fame at the group’s annual meeting at Jamestown Community College in Jamestown, N.Y. Smith, a 1989 graduate of the College, has been on Canisius’ staff since August of 1996.
As the head athletic trainer at Canisius, Smith oversees coverage for all 17 Canisius teams, working directly with the women's lacrosse and cross country/track programs. He also administers and oversees the student-athlete accident insurance and NCAA and Canisius University Drug Testing programs. The Western New York native also serves as an adjunct professor in the Athletic Training Education program at Canisius. His certifications include BOC Certification, Clinical Instructor Educator and National Safety Council Instructor of CPR, First Aid and AED.
“On behalf of our coaches, staff and literally thousands of student-athletes that Andy Smith has cared for, we want to offer both our congratulations and thanks for his service and dedication to the profession,” Bill Maher, Canisius' director of athletics said. “Andy has a long and distinguished career both in and out of the training room, where his expertise is sought not only on our campus, but nationwide. He is the consummate professional and is very deserving of this tremendous honor.”
Smith has held a number of positions within the NYSATA leadership, including serving as president, vice president, president-elect, treasurer (two years), regional representative and he spent time on the scholarship committee. Currently, Smith serves as the chair on the NYSATA awards committee. He is currently a member of the NCAA Drug Task Force and the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects, he was the chair of the NCAA Sub-Committee on Drug Testing and Education (2012-14) and he currently serves as an ATC concussion spotter for the National Football League at Buffalo Bills’ home games.
During his time as NYSATA President, Smith’s leadership and contributions helped in the creation and management of the first NYSATA website and he also initiated a legislative campaign to the State Legislature in efforts of amending the outdated regulation governing High School Athletic Trainer Scope of Practice. That amendment included requirements for all high school athletic trainers to have current AED certification.
Prior to returning to Canisius in 1996, Smith spent six years as an assistant athletic trainer at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. He also spent one year as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at the University of Illinois, where he earned his master’s degree in kinesiology/athletic training in 1990.
