Thanks to that experience, Bob took some athletic training courses and worked in the training room. "Until then," he says, "I never realized how much I loved physiology and science. I was fascinated by its application to the human body and to athletes, and knew I had found my career. During the summers of "88 and '89 I interned with the New York Jets, and that spurred my interest even more."

Bob graduated from UConn in 1988, and completed graduate school a year later. Soon after, he was thrilled to accept an assistant position with his alma mater. In July of 2002 he was named head athletic trainer, directly responsible for football and overseeing a staff of 13 that works with 650 athletes in 24 sports, year around.

"It's great to have been with UConn all these years," Bob says. "It has grown from one of the smaller Division I schools to one of the largest. When I started, there were 66 people working in the athletic department, and now there are about twice that many. Exciting changes have taken place over the years, and it's a great place to work."

Bob has also observed changes in the profession over the years. "When I first started in athletic training, I think it was seen as a blue collar type of medicine-that we just patched up athletes and sent them back out. Over the years, though, it has become viewed more and more as a science-based profession. I also think athletic training has struggled to define itself in recent years. That's a positive thing and has helped to elevate our profession. I've ridden the wave of all of this, and like where it's taking us."

Bob enjoys teaching and mentoring athletic training students. "I tell them this isn't just a job...it's a lifestyle. Succeeding takes hard work, and that frequently means long hours. You may have plans after a game, but if an athlete breaks a leg, that takes precedence. There are early mornings and late nights. To progress to higher levels, you have to mold yourself to the profession. And since you'll be completely immersed in your job much of the time, it's important to make the most of your time off!"

For Bob, breaks from work mean cherished time with his wife and two daughters who are in the 8th and 10th grades. "I'm happy to do whatever they want me to do when I'm home, as long as we're together."

Bob is enjoying his first year on Cramer's Athletic Trainer Advisory Council, and says, "It's a fantastic group, and it's a privilege to help the profession by giving input and feedback."