The department of athletics recently appointed Ian Wood to the position of associate athletic director for sports medicine and head athletic trainer. Wood began his tenure with the department on March 20, 2017. His job responsibilities include overseeing the entire athletic training program at the University and coordinating health care for student-athletes in each of the varsity athletics programs.

Wood began his career in athletic training at Army West Point before transferring to the University of Wisconsin to work with their football team. He then moved to Colorado to work with the U.S. Army Olympians. He remained in Colorado to take over the Colorado College sports medicine program.

Wood was attracted to Bison athletics by the prospect of directing medical care for a full Division I athletics program, and further driven by his familiarity with the Patriot League’s expectations from his time at West Point.

“The two biggest factors were the location of Lewisburg and taking care of true student-athletes,” Wood said when asked why he chose to accept this position.

Wood replaces long-time athletic trainer Mark Keppler, who held the position for 31 years and retired in December. Wood looks to continue Keppler’s tradition of success with Bison athletes while adding a fresh perspective to the program.

“Having the opportunity to move the sports medicine program ahead after such a long tenure is exciting. I’m going to be able to introduce some new thoughts and ideas to my staff, student-athletes, and athletic department,” Wood said. “I’m only the third head athletic trainer behind the legends of Hal Biggs and Mark Keppler so I will be honoring the legacies of those two pioneers by continuing to provide the best care possible to the Bison student-athlete.”