The Seattle University athletic department has announced that Matthew Bussman, the associate athletic trainer at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., has been hired as the head athletic trainer at Seattle University, effective July 1, 2008.
Bussman has been at Johns Hopkins since July 2003, responsible for the health of the student-athletes in football, women’s lacrosse, and men’s and women’s swimming. He has also been responsible for the athletic training website at Johns Hopkins, the oversight of the student athletic training staff, and coordinating coverage of all Johns Hopkins summer camps. He was named 2007 Johns Hopkins University Employer of the Year in recognition of his commitment and contribution to the student employment program at the university.
“We are very excited to have Matt join us in the athletic department. His professionalism, his ability to communicate, and his experience make him a great addition to the staff,” said Assistant Athletic Director Erin Engelhardt, who led the national search over the past few months.
Before working at Johns Hopkins, Bussman was a graduate assistant athletic trainer at two Nashville, Tenn., universities. He assisted with the football team and worked with the women’s lacrosse team at during the 2002-03 season and was the primary athletic trainer for the men’s soccer, men’s basketball, and baseball teams at in the 2001-02 academic year.
From July 2000 through November 2005, he was an intern athletic trainer for the Seattle Seahawks, working multiple camps and assisting with daily athletic training room operations. He also assisted with several preseason and regular season football games, both home and away, through the 2005 season.
“Seattle University has a great reputation for both academics and athletics and I am very excited to have the opportunity to be a part of it. It is clear that this is an important period for the athletic program at Seattle University and I look forward to participating in the continued growth and success,” Bussman said.
Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Bussman received his Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and sports medicine from and his Master of Education degree in sports administration from . Bussman replaces Mark Escandon, who left Seattle University in January for a job with Depuy Mitek. Gwen Johnson, the interim head athletic trainer since Escandon’s departure, will remain at Seattle University as the other full-time athletic trainer on staff.
Seattle University is a private, Jesuit institution with a total enrollment of over 7,500 students located in the First Hill section of Seattle, Wash. The athletic department is beginning the reclassification process of moving to NCAA Division I status.