University of Houston Athletics
Sports Medicine Department Adds Three Assistant Athletics Trainers
6/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | General
June 24, 2010
The University of Houston is proud to announce that Hideyuki Okuwa, Lauren LeBlanc and Max Mahaffey have been promoted from their position of graduate assistants to full-time assistant athletic trainers in the Sports Medicine Department.
The Sports Medicine Department is dedicated to providing all Cougar student-athletes with the best possible medical attention and care. They are trained in the areas of prevention, recognition, immediate treatment, management and rehabilitation of athletic injuries.
"We're very excited to have all three of these qualified athletic trainers hired to take care of our student-athletes," head athletics trainer Michael O'Shea said. "This is an indication of the emphasis our administration has on preserving the health and well-being of our student-athletes."
All three individuals have recently finished their graduate course work here at the University of Houston completing their M. Ed. in Physical Education with an emphasis in Sports Administration. After spending years studying on the field and in the classroom at the University of Houston and their undergraduate colleges, they have proved they are worthy of their promotions.
Okuwa, who hails from Japan, completed his undergraduate work at Indiana State University and received his B.S. in athletic training. Okuwa will assist O'Shea and associate athletics trainer John Houston with football and help all other sports teams. Okuwa has previously worked with the football and cross country teams during his two years as a graduate assistant.
"When we help as an athletic trainer, we not only help the student-athletes recover physically but mentally as well," Okuwa said. "We encourage the student-athletes when they come in and provide assistance to help them. I'm very excited to continue what I have been doing which is helping the student-athletes."
LeBlanc will be responsible for the health and injury prevention of the volleyball and swimming and diving teams as she has been for the past two years. She calls Missouri City, Texas, her home and graduated from Texas State University with a B.S. in athletic training. LeBlanc has provided her talents for the Special Olympics and rehabilitation centers around the state of Texas.
Mahaffey graduated from Louisiana College with a B.S. in athletic training and is a native of Pineville, La. He will continue working with the football and baseball teams as he has throughout his tenure as a graduate assistant. He also has experience working with minor league baseball clubs, a variety of other collegiate and high school sports and has worked in physical therapy clinics.
The three athletics trainers are all certified and licensed in the state of Texas and across the nation by virtue of the National Athletic Trainers' Association.
