HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

SPORTS MEDICINE SERVICES

The following history of athletic training at the University of Iowa was begun in 1989 by a program student, Todd DeMoss. Todd's original investigation was amplified and edited by Dan Foster before sending a draft to the alumni. The following text represents the best effort to date to document historical events important to the University of Iowa Athletic Training and Sports Medicine Departments.

The first reference to the employment of an athletic trainer at the University of Iowa was to Frank (Skipper) Mann. Skipper Mann was born in 1886 and died in 1957. He was considered by historians to be one of the forefathers of modern athletic training. He attended Chicago University in 1903 where he was a student trainer. After completing a full course in the art of handling the physical injuries and mental stresses of athletes, he began his student-trainer position. Then in 1906, he accepted an athletic training position at the University of Indiana where he remained until he accepted a position at Iowa in 1910. Frank Mann worked at Iowa in the capacity of athletic trainer from 1910 to 1914. Mann continued to serve as an athletic trainer until 1950. Over his almost 50 years of experience and contributions, he became known as one of the nation's most prominent athletic trainers. In 1962, he was one of the original inductees to the Helm's Hall of Fame for athletic trainers.

Information became sketchy during Frank Mann's time regarding other athletic trainers on campus at Iowa. Mr. Lloyd "Snapper" Stein might have been at the university by 1914, if not very soon thereafter. Snapper Stein was credited with developing the university's first training room in the Field House, which was dedicated January 13, 1927.

Both Lloyd Stein and his successor Bill Frey were very active and influential in the development of a nation-wide association for athletic trainers. They saw such an association acting as a common voice on matters concerning maintenance of standards of care and as a means to provide a free exchange of ideas, especially for students. The concept of an athletic training association was the brain child of Bill Frey and Charles Cramer (Cramer Chemical Company).

During the spring of 1938, the association concept became a reality when athletic trainers from all parts of the nation came to the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. At the first meeting of the national Athletic Trainers Association in 1938, Bill Frey was named secretary and treasurer: a position he held until 1942. At that time the national office operated in Iowa City, Iowa. Bill Frey was the University's Head Athletic Trainer and the NATA Secretary/Treasurer. His first official act at organizational structure was to divide the nation into regions and to assign directors to each region. The regions were dominated by the big time athletic conference geography. Secondly, he created a means to exchange ideas and opinions: the monthly NATA Bulletin.



In 1940 Lloyd Stein (now Head Athletic Trainer for the University of Minnesota) was elected president of NATA. The following year of 1941 gave the opportunity for the organization to advance from the NATA Bulletin to the Trainers Journal. Iowa's Bill Frey was named editor of the first journal dealing with the prevention and treatment of athletic injuries. The journal was published in Iowa City. The Trainers Journal became an NATA publication, taking the place of the Bulletin in response to an increasing demand and need for injury prevention and athletic care information from trainers and coaches. Bill Frey was in the Navy pre-Flight Training School in Iowa City during 1942 and he was re-elected as Secretary/Treasurer of NATA. He continued as editor of the Trainers Journal until 1944, when the last issue was published.

Dr. William D. "Shorty" Paul (Athletics Team Physician from 1939 to 1971) was an individual whose 40 years of effort and experience as an internal medicine physician created a strong base of support for athletic training and the medical school community at Iowa. Dr. Paul was the medical advisor to the young physical therapy program developed after the war. He contributed to many other areas of medicine while gaining national and international fame as the developer of Bufferin@ and Rolaids@.

As Bill Frey pursued his military obligations, the head training position went to Doyle "Doc" Allsup in 1939. "Doc" Allsup continued in that position until 1960. Athletics at Iowa expanded from a focus on football and track to field strong teams in baseball, basketball and wrestling. Athletic training expanded their coverage and needed a staff. "Doc" Allsup developed the philosophy that "in season" sports should take priority in athletic training attention over the "out of season" sports. The focus on participation and excellence in athletics meant an increasing number of athletes. An assistant trainer and students at Iowa shared in the duties of prevention, care, and treatment of athletic injuries.

During the 50's , the Field House training room was still the center of athletic health care at the university. Kinnick Stadium provided some additional space for a football training room. During the 1960's, Head Trainer Arno Buntrock (1960-1967) had to deal with the university's dramatic growth in sports and athletics. It was clear to him that his services were limited by the size of the training facilities. So by the late 1960's, Athletic Director Forrest Evashevski laid the plans for the Recreation Building. It was constructed in 1969 to meet the needs of increasing the facilities for athletics and for general university recreation. The first year of use of the new training room wasn't until 1972. Planning and design of the new athletic training facility was the first task of a young athletic trainer and physical therapist, Tom Spalj. Tom succeeded Arno Buntrock as Head Athletic Trainer in 1967. Spalj was very active with Dr. Paul in developing a core of interested student trainers. Both of these men and the great Arthur Steindler (Orthopaedic Surgeon) were active in educating these students and in allowing them to actively assist in the training room. The impact that these men had on young students and staff may be emphasized by the names of currently active trainers and sports medicine physicians: Fred Zamberletti, Kent Falb, Duke LaRue, Ed Crowley, Dennis Sealy, John Streif, Dan Campbell, Jim Kausek, Gary Dersheid, Lynn Wallace, Mike Bell, Dan Foster, Jerry Gillon, Holly Wilson-Greene, Larry Sayles, Lynn Lindamann, and Jim Kausek.

The 1970's marks the most recent history of athletic training at the University of Iowa since some of the key individuals working in this area then are still here in the 1990's. In 1971 Dr Harley Feldick replaced "Shorty" Paul as Head Team Physician. Dr. Feldick was one the new physicians in Student Health that year and within four years he became the director. Whereas Dr. Paul was feisty and barked at the players, Dr. Feldick joined in, spoke out on many national issues, and directed the program from every aspect. In December of Dr. Feldick's second year, Tom Spalj died of an unusual congenital condition. His assistant Lynn Wallace and his graduate assistant John Streif, held the reigns until a new head trainer could be named. It was the summer of 1973 when former assistant to Spalj, Ed Crowley became the sixth Head Athletic Trainer for the University of Iowa. His first assistant was John Streif.

Ed Crowley received his physical therapy certificate from Iowa in 1969 (he was an assistant from 1967-1969) and was certified by NATA in 1972. The Army did little to interrupt Ed's career as a trainer since he served at West Point in that capacity from 1969-1970 and then following his two-year commitment, he was assistant to William "Pinky" Newell at Purdue. The athletic training program came into form in the 1970's. Ed Crowley believed in service to the athlete and in education. He started with himself, an assistant, two graduate assistants, and eight student trainers. They provided specialized health coverage to thirteen sports made up of 225-230 athletes. His two graduate assistants were Holly Wilson-Greene and Dan Foster. Holly was to become distinguished as one of the first five women certified athletic trainers in the nation. Both Holly and Dan started working on advanced degrees in the 70's while working as assistant athletic trainers. Holly and Ed were able to bring Iowa into the Title IX era with relative ease.

The increasing demands to upgrade athletic facilities, for recruitment, for fan support, and for changing times was coupled with an increase in both the size and stature of the men's and women sports programs. Athletic Director Chalmers "Bump" Elliott believed in the value of interdependence in a broadly-based and successful sports program. He and H. B. Christine Grant (Women's Athletic Director) forged as successful an all-sports program as could be found in America. When Hayden Fry was appointed to the Head Football coaching position in 1978, all the dreams came together and the basketball program was able to move out of the famous Field House and into the celebrated Carver-Hawkeye Arena, 1983. With the basketball move also went volleyball, field hockey, softball, women's basketball, and wrestling. The former Halsey Gymnasium and women's sports were now on the west side of the Iowa River and gaining respect.

During the early 70's, Crowley started an NATA Approved Curriculum for athletic training but quickly decided that head trainer duties and teaching were difficult to manage. The curriculum, as a minor in the Department of Physical Education for Men, was approved in 1974. Dan Foster taught and was supported by Louis E. Alley (Physical Education Chair) for two years and then became the Program Director and assistant trainer in 1976. The Recreation Building Training Room was active throughout the year while the Field House operated mostly in the winter (prior to 1980). It was the coverage of men's basketball (Streif), wrestling (Foster), and women's sports (Wilson-Greene) that traded off with football for staff support. Crowley's strength was in keeping conscientious, hard-working people happy with a strong measure of independence. Streif was the detail man with great insight. Crowley had ideas, bullish determination, and strong clinical skills. Foster was effective at structure and coordination. Wilson-Greene was a role model. Together they forged a department of substantial size and worth to the university.

Dr. John Albright came to Iowa in 1971 as a staff orthopaedist. Ortho was located in the Children's Hospital at that time. Later this famous Iowa landmark took the name of one of the most famous orthopedists of this century, Arthur Steindler. Dr. Albright came from Yale where he was Chief Resident under Kenneth DeHaven. His clinics grew and so did his interest in sports medicine. Dan Foster worked with him as a sports fellow for his master's degree work. Robert Martin directed his bone research lab at the VA Hospital. Dr. Albright showed tremendous energy and was the ultimate idea man. He and Dr. Feldick worked together on the freshmen neck x-ray studies of the mid- to late 70's. By 1978, Dr. Albright spearheaded a global plan to organize the university health and sports medicine services through the Vice-president in charge of Finance and Sport. This was a bold and innovative concept similar to the University of Washington and its sports medicine program directed by Dr. James Garrick.

The staff size grew in response to the urging of Ed Crowley, Dr. Feldick, and Dr. Albright to adequately service the university athlete. The quality of all athletic teams on campus helped to make the strong statement to university officials. Early salary lines for athletic trainers were from a variety of sources including Student health, Physical Education, and University Services. Before consolidating the various staff members into a single fiscal department, the staff consisted of Ed Crowley, John Streif, John Crowe, Dan Foster, and Holly Wilson-Greene. Holly left in 1980 and was replaced by former curriculum student Faye Thompson. John Crowe left in 1982 and was replaced by Steve Marti (University of Northern Iowa former staff). Ed Gregori came on-board to head the Arena Staff in 1982-3. This intermediate head position was new for Iowa and so was called an Associate Director. When Steve Marti left in 1986, Bob Loll replaced him. Both Steve and Bob taught first aid for the New Exercise Science and Physical Education Department. With Bob Loll, the academic program was able to offer EMT-A certification. The move to the Arena in the early 80's allowed Crowley to convert Gail Hudash's graduate assistant position to full-time. She then became the associate director of the Field House. Russ Haynes was hired to work football as a new position in 1987. Bob Loll worked football but also assisted with the West Wing Training Room in the Recreation Building early in that development. Larry Leverenz took over in 1986. The stage was set: associate director's Crowley (Head Trainer), Hudash, and Gregori. Ed Gregori left for a clinic position in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1986. Dan Foster left wrestling that year to replace him. Jim Hoegh was hired for wrestling. Larry Leverenz and Russ Haynes took over the West Wing and East Wing respectively that year. Ann Bartels came to Iowa after physical therapy school to replace Gail Hudash-Wadley in 1987. In recent years, Larry Leverenz left to direct the athletic training education program at Purdue, 1991. Boyd Murray, who was hired to replace Bob Loll, moved to the West Wing and was replaced in football by John Honcharuk. In 1991, Faye Thompson started her counseling degree and so shared part-time staff duties with Dr. John Powell.

When Jim Hoegh left for England in 1993, John Powell (formerly of Penn State and San Diego State and Chair of the NATA Research and Education Foundation), Alex Kane (Eastern Michigan University), and Matt Doyle (former undergraduate student) beefed up the staff to replace Hoegh, Thompson part-time, and Honcharuk (who left for Main South High School in Illinois). When Thompson returned full-time, Ed Crowley was able to hire Roxann Dahl (University of Illnois and Michigan State) for women's basketball in 1995 and Kristen Payne (Washington State and Nebraska-Omaha) in 1996 for wrestling and golf. By the end of the 1990's, Eric Waters returned to Iowa after his undergraduate days and a degree at Idaho State for an interim year (1998-1999) to replace Roxann Dahl who went to the University of Michigan. When Eric finished his year, he was hired by Northwestern University. We did not replace Eric with a combination women's basketball and football staff but rather worked toward developing sufficient staff size to make team coverage equitable. Bryan Messer, former 1995 graduate, was hired from North Carolina State University to work strictly with football. By late summer we are still waiting to find the funds to hire a women's basketball athletic trainer. That new staff was Jenny Hartgrave who studied at Southern Iliinois University and then at Nebraska. Jenny was an assistant at a small college in Missouri before coming to Iowa. Also by the end of 1998-99, Kristen Payne left for the University of Colorado. To replace her, another former graduate (Class of 1992), Matt Doyle, left a faculty position at the South Dakota State University.

During the early 1990's, the staff were able to continue to be supported with excellent facilities and equipment. University Hospitals expanded into John Papajohn Pavilion, which housed orthopaedics, physical therapy, and radiology. This turned out to be a modern and beautiful area of the hospital with excellent access to sports. The Arena was able to cooperate with the Department of Physical Therapy Education to house and clinically use an aquaciser (initial factory version originally at Sun Valley) in 1993. It has been used as an underwater treadmill for clinical use and for cooperative studies, as well as a tank for underwater weighing in the determination of body composition. A CYBEX 6000 was purchased in 1992 for the Arena to replace the original CYBEX II purchased in the 1970s. In other areas, the Recreation building was remodeled and finished as football moved out of their original area. The old West Wing training room was abandoned for the slightly modified East Wing. The names of the training rooms were changed at this point, and were referred to as RB (Track, Tennis, Baseball and soon to be Soccer), and JAB (Jacobsen Athletic Building - Football). The JAB incorporated some bold designs and Texas-like features (big). A three level lap pool is one of the big-time features that was enclosed within the training room. Another feature that made a dramatic statement was the conference room enclosed within the training room. Few facilities in the country could match the capabilities of the Iowa Complex at that time. In 2002 the Hall of Fame was built just west of Finkbine Golf Course on Mormon Trek Blvd. Not only are athletes and coaches honored in this facility but you will see many of our long time staff immortalized in permanent displays.  Just behind the Hall of Fame and nearer to the married student housing complex Recreation and Athletics combined to build a new facility, the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Center.  The building was finished for athletics use in the fall 2006.  Tennis, Soccer, and Field Hockey all use the facility with an athletic training room satellite facility for those sports.  Ground breaking will occur in October 2007 for the new natatorium being build on the east side of the river off Burlington St. across from the Main Library.  The construction is expected to be completed in 2008.

2001 brought some significant changes to the Iowa Program. Dr. Albright lost his partner, Dave Tearse, to private practice, but he stayed here in Iowa just a little north of Iowa City, in North Liberty. To replace him and to spearhead a comprehensive sports medicine center was Dr. Ned Amendola, formerly of Western Ontario. Ned's expertise in orthopaedics is foot and ankle but he also had innovative experiences with meniscus transplantation and other specialized arthroscopic procedures. His contributions to the structure of athletic training services has been to bring us together with the other sports medicine services on campus to combine education, research and service into a cohesive unit. The early plans for these changes involved bringing in former alumnus (1995), Mike Shaffer, to bridge the gap between physical therapy and athletic training in 2002. Mike has been working closely with the football staff and all of the service components to share expertise and provide some leadership in the transition. Dr. George Phillips (Pediatrics) was brought on board in 2002 to add considerable expertise to the center and serve as team physician for Men's Basketball. Men's basketball suffered the loss of Dr. Dave Johnston to retirement. Hard to replace a great supporter like Dr. Dave and we will miss him. Dr. Paul Baumert from Student Health was formally added to the physician expert panel for the center also in 2002. Both Dr. Brian Wolf (Orthopaedics - shoulder) and Glenn Williams (PhD, PT, ATC) came on board in 2003. Brian was an ortho resident at Iowa and finished a shoulder fellowship in New York at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Glenn Williams came from Army and the University of Delaware to teach and do research in the Graduate Physical Therapy Program and to serve in the role of Research coordinator for the center. In this history, we hope to add the legacy of this new era through research projects conducted by the group.

Our beloved leader for 31 years, Ed Crowley, found a way to retire gracefully and get out from under the heavy burden of football in doing it. Ed is now a senior rehabilitation therapist with the physical therapy services at UIHC and a consultant member of the sports medicine center. His replacement, Paul Federici, will be starting a new era of leadership for athletic training. We hope to have many more exciting changes with our program as we embark on a new direction over the next few years. Look to these pages to give those changes some life and explanation.

Paul Federici made a new hire with Tad Leusch, formerly from the University of Illinois, to fill out the football staff at JAB in 2004.

Dan