Colorado State University · Fort Collins, CO

Head Football Athletic Trainer at Colorado State University — Fort Collins, CO

Full-timeFort Collins, CO$85,000–$100,000/yearPosted 2026-07-21Apply on Workday

Full job description

# Job Description

## Position Summary:

The Head Football Athletic Trainer (Temporary Appointment) serves as the clinical and operational leader of the Football Sports Medicine unit within Colorado State University’s Health and Performance Department. This position is responsible for the strategic oversight, coordination, and delivery of comprehensive sports medicine services for NCAA Division I Football student-athletes, including injury prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, recovery and return-to-play, and return-to-performance initiatives.

Under the direction of the head team physician and the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Health and Performance, the Head Football Athletic Trainer provides leadership for Football Sports Medicine operations and supervises assigned athletic training personnel. This position serves as a key member of the Football Health and Performance team, working collaboratively with team physicians, strength and conditioning staff, nutrition staff, mental health staff, and other qualified medical personnel to optimize student-athlete health, safety, and performance.

This position is responsible for the implementation of evidence-based clinical practices, management of day to day football sports medicine operations, oversight of medical documentation and compliance, emergency preparedness planning, and participation in an integrated approach to athlete care.

Located in the beautiful city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University is a premier land-grant university with world-class programs in education, outreach, and research. CSU has a student body of over 34,000 students, 7,400 employees, 277,000 living alumni, and annual research expenditures exceeding $600 million.

The Colorado State University Department of Athletics sponsors 16 men’s and women’s intercollegiate sports and competes as a member of NCAA Division I-FBS and the Pac-12 Conference. More information on the University and its intercollegiate athletics program can be found at www.csurams.com and www.colostate.edu.

This position is open until filled.

## Essential Job Duties:

  • Provide leadership and oversight of the Football Sports Medicine unit including but not limited to injury prevention, clinical evaluation, management and treatment of athletic injuries, recovery, return-to-play, return-to-performance, education, and support of student-athletes while abiding by the rules and regulations established by Colorado State University, the Pac-12 Conference, and the NCAA
  • Develop and implement evidence-based strategies designed to enhance athlete health, wellness, performance, and competitive availability
  • Provide clinical evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses under the supervision of the designated team physician/medical director and in accordance with standards of the NATABOC, and state regulatory board
  • Serve as the primary athletic trainer for Football and provide consistent coverage for practice, competitions, training activities, off-season programming and ensure coordination and scheduling of medical coverage for home and away competitions
  • Coordinate physician referrals as part of the injury management process and assist in coordination of diagnostic testing for student-athletes as indicate and ordered by managing team physician
  • Coordinate physical exams for incoming football student-athletes and collaborate with team physicians on medical screening exams for PSA’s.
  • Collaborate with sports medicine staff, team physicians, strength and conditioning staff, nutrition staff, mental health staff, and other qualified medical personnel to deliver best-in-class care to student-athletes
  • Coordinate and utilize electronic medical records systems and athlete management platforms to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant medical documentation in accordance with established medical documentation standards.
  • Support leadership with management of Football sports medicine facility, supplies and equipment, incorporation of contemporary processes, modalities, technology, etc., and student employees and volunteers, and projects as assigned
  • Maintain and execute, as needed, an emergency action plan for Football program in partnership with team physicians, area emergency medical services, athletics facilities, and local hospitals
  • Provide regular communication with coaching staff regarding injury and participation status of football student-athletes
  • Other duties as assigned by supervisors.

## Supervision:

Position supervises administrative professional employees, student hourly employees, and volunteers when applicable.

## Conditions of Employment:

  • Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
  • Valid driver's license
  • Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays, and travel as needed
  • Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States by the proposed start date.

## Minimum qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in health and exercise science, sports medicine, kinesiology, anatomy or related field
  • Current BOC certification
  • Minimum of four years of previous experience as a certified athletic trainer required, preferably in an intercollegiate sports medicine or athletic training program at the NCAA Division I level
  • Active Athletic Training license with the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) required prior to the start date of employment (see https://dpo.colorado.gov/AthleticTrainer for additional information)
  • Ability to respond professionally and competently in emergency situations

## Preferred qualifications

  • Master’s degree
  • Previous experience with managing sports medicine budget, inventory, and strategic planning
  • Previous experience supervising athletic training employees and students
  • Previous experience collaborating with strength and conditioning, sports science, nutrition, psychology, and physician teams
  • Proficient in utilizing athlete medical records systems and platforms for documentation

# Salary Range

$85,000 to $100,000

# Required Application Documents

Cover Letter, Resume/CV

# Employee Benefits

  • Review our detailed benefits information here.
  • Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.
  • For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.
  • Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

# Background Check Policy Statement

# EEO