The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Longhorns Sports Medicine Staff recognized by Big 12 Conference
05.09.2018 | Texas Athletics
Longhorns named Big 12 Sports Medicine Staff of the Year and Kassi Hardee named Big 12 Assistant Athletic Trainer of the Year.
The University of Texas Sports Medicine staff was recently honored as the Big 12 Sports Medicine Staff of the Year. In addition, Kassi Hardee was named the Big 12 Assistant Athletic Trainer of the Year. Hardee, who oversees sports medicine care for the softball program, is a UT alum.
"Kassi goes over and above in her care of our student-athletes," said Allen Hardin, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Performance, Health & Wellness. "She is a servant who puts her student-athletes' interests above her own and is an example for our entire staff. She is intellectually curious which pushes her to advance. She contributes in meaningful ways behind the scenes, such as managing our electronic medical record system and helping coordinate our women's wellness program. Kassi is a star and is very deserving of this recognition."
Hardee joined the Texas Athletics sports medicine staff in 2011, after serving as a UT Athletic Training Student from 2005-08. She graduated from UT Austin with her degree in Athletic Training Education. Upon her return to the Forty Acres, Hardee served the women's swimming and diving program before transitioning to the softball program prior to this season.
"Kassi is a tremendous athletic trainer for us," head softball coach Connie Clark added. "It didn't surprise me when I heard that she had been honored, and it didn't surprise me that Kassi didn't tell us. She's very humble. As a team, you can't go about your business unless you have a really good athletic trainer and we certainly do in Kassi. They're always behind the scenes and never get celebrated, but we are really proud of her for this recognition. She is going to do great things, not just with softball, but in her future."
In addition to Hardee's award, the staff was honored by its conference peers as the Big 12 Sports Medicine Staff of the Year. It is the third time that Texas has been honored (also 2006, 2013), more than any other conference school.
"This is the third time that we've been honored with this award, which I think speaks directly to the professionalism our staff demonstrates both when we host at UT and when we are traveling with our teams" Hardin said. "It reinforces that we do things the right way and is an indication of the respect our Conference peers have for our program. It is always great to be recognized but is particularly meaningful to be recognized by our peers for doing the work we love - serving our student-athletes and coaches."
Texas Sports Medicine has implemented a multidisciplinary, athlete-centered model of care that provides evidence-based screening, injury prevention and rehabilitation to realize improved sports performance, decreased incidence of injury/illness and optimal long-term health and wellness. In addition, the department has added recent innovations such as a nationally-renowned applied sports science and behavioral health service lines. They are recognized as leaders in sports concussion safety, participating in various institutional, UT System and Big 12 Conference research initiatives. Additionally, they are long considered to have a best-in-class women's health initiative, first implemented by the late Tina Bonci, that remains a strategic priority today.