Doane College has sought outside resources to oversee the athletic training program and course curriculum due to growth in its athletic programs.

In a press release dated Friday, Feb. 12, Doane Athletic Director Greg Heier said the decision to partner with Crete Area Medical Center will provide additional resources and benefits to the college’s student athletes.

“Due to the growth of our athletic programs in terms of both size and scope, it was increasingly difficult to address the full range of athletic training needs with internal resources,” Heier said.  “The partnership is designed to increase the athletic training resources, including number of athletic trainers and their availability.”

In the agreement, which has yet to be finalized, Carol Friesen, president and CEO of CAMC, said it would aim to provide three full-time athletic trainers for the college and a CAMC physician to oversee the department.

The “Athletic Training Outreach” program will be run by CAMC and the trainers will be employed through the hospital. Heier said the current athletic trainers, Steph Kindt and Brad Jenny, will be able to seek employment through CAMC.

Kindt, current head trainer, came to Doane in 1997 and Jenny arrived in 1999. They are both certified through the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Jenny is also Doane’s men’s and women’s cross country coach and an assistant with track and field.

In the agreement, a third full-time trainer will be added, Heier said, to make them more available to student athletes.

“There was no one to rehabilitate injuries of students because the trainers were always in the classroom. With the new program, someone will be in the office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. There will be more availability with three athletic trainers.” Heier said.

Doane offers an athletic training emphasis within the Physical Education major. Heier said the partnership will enable an expansion within class offerings and schedules for those students wishing to pursue the emphasis.  Classes are currently taught by the full-time trainers. Student trainers gain experience working with the student athletes.

Heier said the full-time trainers have been limited because of class schedules and the number of student athletes requiring their time.

Friesen said the partnership has been talked about since sometime in the fall when discussions between Doane officials and CAMC centered around the development of the new Recreation and Athletic Center (RAC) and ways the hospital could help the college.

“We appreciate they looked to us locally, first,” Friesen said. “They were going to expand with the RAC and it was overwhelming for them.”

Friesen said Kindt and Jenny can seek employment with the hospital when the agreement is finalized, sometime this week. She and Heier did not know for sure if the trainers would apply through CAMC.

Kindt and Jenny could not be reached for comment. Heier said he notified them recently of the changes and new partnership.

Friesen is optimistic about the new outreach and said it is another way for CAMC to connect with the community with its services.

“The student athletes’ health and well-being is our primary objective,” Friesen, said.  “This program will provide excellent continuity of care for students, giving them the treatment options of athletic training, injury rehabilitation, orthopedic consultation and surgery without ever leaving the Crete community.”

Doane will pay a fee for the program to CAMC in exchange for management of the program and the trainers on a ten-month contract, with offices at Doane.

She said there are provisions in the agreement for 10 student trainers in addition to the three full-time. The full-time trainers would receive employee benefits through CAMC. She said they looked at market wages for the trainers and believes they will be compensated fairly through the switch in management.

A major change in the program will be the addition of the physician as medical director of the program. The contract is set to take effect Aug. 15.