The Kennesaw State University Sports Medicine Staff is responsible for the management of all aspects of the student athletes' health and safety. Management of the student athletes' health and safety includes the prevention, recognition, treatment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries, as well as the referral of the student athletes to appropriate specialized providers. As an institution of higher learning, we strive to educate our athletes, coaches and student athletic trainers in all aspects of health and safety.

A major goal of the Kennesaw State University Sports Medicine program is to continue to improve the healthcare provided to the student athletes. We are continually trying to increase our professional staff, as well as form partnerships with specialized providers within the community. In addition to working on staffing issues, we have worked hard to provide an extremely comprehensive pre-participation physical examination. Our student athletes go through the normal medical and orthopedic screenings, but they also undergo advanced heart screening. The health and safety of our student athletes is our highest priority.

Sports Medicine Team

The Kennesaw State University Sports Medicine team consists of the KSU Sports Medicine and Strength & Conditioning Staffs and the specialists that support our student-athletes. The KSU Sports Medicine Staff includes the Director of Sports Medicine, Karen Pfeifer, Assistant Athletic Trainer, Chris Archambeault, Assistant Athletic Trainer, Yesy Ochoa and two graduate assistant athletic trainers, Erica Dhuy and Cookie Guadalupe. The Head Strength and Conditioning Coach is Joe Pitts.

In addition to the KSU Sports Medicine Staff of Certified Athletic Trainers, we have assembled a team of specialty providers to address the various medical needs of our student-athletes. In addition to our team physician (orthopaedics), Dr. Stan Dysart, we have a 2nd orthopaedic specialist, Dr. Tom Myers, a team chiropractor, Dr. Keith Rau, a team primary care physician, Dr. Greg Matechak, a team dentist, Dr. Kenneth Kligman, a team cardiologist, Dr. Howard Snapper, and a rehabilitation consultant, Terry Trundle, ATC, PTA. We also have excellent resources within the KSU community, which include the Health Clinic, the CAPS Center for counseling issues and a nutrition consultant/registered dietician, Kelly Schriver, at the Wellness Center. The entire team works together to provide the best healthcare possible.

Facilities

The KSU Sports Medicine Department has two athletic training rooms. The Bailey Complex athletic training room services the baseball, softball and women's soccer teams. The Convocation Center athletic training room services all of our other student-athletes. Both facilities are new and have all new equipment within the last 3 years.

The strength and conditioning facility was constructed in the spring of 2006 and became complete with the hiring of the full-time strength and conditioning coach, Joe Pitts. While the facility is not large, we have state of the art powerlifting and free weight equipment and are able to train each team according to their specific needs.

Strength and Conditioning Program

The strength and conditioning program at KSU became a full-time reality in the fall of 2006, with the hiring of Joe Pitts and the completion of our facility. Our teams have benefited tremendously with the addition of this program.

Kennesaw's dedication to a strong strength and conditioning program is epitomized in Pitts, whose training and coaching philosophy shows a powerful correlation between conditioning and athletic success. Pitts has high expectations and sets high goals for the athletes, but makes the goals attainable with strenuous, realistic workout programs.

Kennesaw State's strength and conditioning program is a performance based program focusing on power, strength, speed, and agility. Pitts, a strong motivator, believes that an athlete's success in competition comes from their success and dedication off the field of play. Pitts takes full advantage of the equipment, facilities, and grounds at KSU to make sure the athletes are prepared physically when the competition season begins.