VCU's Collins named Division I athletic trainer of the year

Jul 10, 2023

Jeff Collins, a VCU Health Sports Medicine trainer talks about earning Division I athletics trainer of the year.

It is a normal Wednesday at the VCU Health sports medicine building on Broad Street, which is to say, it is busy.

Student-athletes and trainers mill about the facility under the watch of Jeff Collins, who is beginning his 14th year tending to Rams and currently oversees the entire sports medicine department as its director.

Collins has a heart for the work. He is not here for the recognition, but it found him anyway. He was recently named the National Athletic Trainers' Association Division I head athletic trainer of the year.

"It's very humbling to hear that the work I’ve had is making an impact on other people," Collins said.

"I always think of the impact my work has on the student-athletes, so that has always been my primary focus, to make sure the student-athletes’ health and safety is paramount here."

Collins was selected for the national honor by the NATA Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine. He is an active member of the NATA, and advocates for safe space training and the formulation of plans to help student-athletes return to competition following mental health crises.

His day-to-day tasks encompass all VCU athletic programs and range from supervising Rams trainers, dieticians and psychologists to communicating with outside health care providers like physicians, therapists and chiropractors, as well as handling budgetary and administrative responsibilities for the sports medicine department.

"I really view this award as something for the entire sports medicine staff here at VCU," he said.

"I can't be recognized for doing my job well if hundreds of other people aren't doing their jobs well. So I don't see this so much as an individual award as it is one for our athletic training staff and the rest of the sports medicine staff members here."

VCU Health Sports Medicine trainer Jeff Collins poses for a photo on Wednesday after being named Division I athletic trainer of the year.

Casual observers might only see the tip of the iceberg in terms of what college athletic trainers do for student-athletes.

While the surface-level tasks like hydration and taping ankles are vital, Collins believes trainers have to approach healthcare from a holistic perspective that prioritizes injury prevention and safeguards patients from within and without.

"Our profession is about caring for people. Not just body parts and starting point guards. But actual people," he said, looking around at the Rams receiving treatment or simply socializing in a space Collins structures as warm and welcoming.

"Everyone deserves equal access to healthcare, so to me, it's not about your impact on the field, but who you are as a person."

Michael Avey, VCU's assistant director of sports medicine, wrote a letter of support to the NATA, lobbying for them to select Collins for the award. Avey first started working with Collins as an intern nine years ago, and lauded his overall influence on sports medicine at VCU.

Alongside VCU Health head orthopedic physician and surgeon Dr. Seth Cheatham, Collins led the charge to establish an independent medical model at VCU, an NCAA best practice approach to medical management in college athletics.

The model ensures that trainers maintain autonomy in their decision-making processes, Avey said; the partnership has allowed his team to make more accurate and effective decisions related to student-athlete injuries.

Avey also called Collins a cornerstone of his own professional development, and said his "tranquility" acts as an anchor amid the turbulent sea of being a trainer in a high-stress college athletic environment.

"Through his tutelage I had gained a volume of insight and empowerment to go farther than I ever expected," Avey said.

"As the assistant director working alongside Jeff, it is possible to see a version of yourself that was once thought less than attainable."

VCU Health Sports Medicine trainer Jeff Collins poses for a photo on Wednesday after being named Division I athletic trainer of the year.

Like many, Collins' first interaction with an athletic trainer was a result of an injury. He hurt his shoulder in high school while swimming, his winter sport after football in the fall and baseball in the spring.

That introduced the Glastonbury, Conn. native and Glastonbury High graduate to the profession to which he would one day devote his life. His father was a physician and his mother a teacher, so Collins always desired to follow in their footsteps and make a career out of helping people.

But he was not positive athletic training would prove to be that path until positive experiences in his undergraduate studies at Wake Forest and graduate years at UNC-Greensboro.

Scott Spernoga, the women's basketball trainer at Wake, was instrumental in Collins's commitment to the profession. He cut his teeth working with Demon Deacons student-athletes.

Then Collins took the short trip from Winston-Salem to Greensboro, where grad program chair Dr. Jolene Henning set the foundation for Collins to develop into the trainer he is today. Not a day goes by that he does not utilize something she taught him, he said.

Upon finishing grad school, Collins sent out ample applications. A former classmate had landed at VCU and recommended him, and Collins began his VCU tenure as an intern trainer in 2007.

Stints at Hampton (2009-10) and Longwood (2010-12) followed before Collins returned to VCU in a full-time role in 2012, and he has been here since.

Former Rams head athletic trainer Eddie Benion, now at Texas A&M, was pivotal in teaching Collins a lesson that has stuck with him perhaps above all others.

Collins is naturally a bit shy and quiet, he said. Through Benion, he learned the art of communicating with patients to develop the trust required in order to administer proper healthcare.

"Yes, it's very important to have great clinical skills, it's important to stay on top of all the latest research," he said.

"But people need to know that you care about them, and not just them as a student-athlete, but them as a person, before you can really deliver great healthcare to them."

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Collins took charge of the department in 2018, and led it through the pandemic, a time he called immensely stressful and difficult, with athletic schedules in a state of disarray plus constant testing and managing of COVID-19 cases.

His favorite athletic achievement as a Rams trainer was VCU winning the 2021 Atlantic 10 field hockey tournament at Cary Street Field.

Collins worked directly with the field hockey program for many years before moving up the ladder, and has a photo of that 2021 team, which won the school's first-ever A-10 title in the sport, hanging above his desk.

Student-athletes come to him for everything from ACLs to toothaches or bad breakups. Collins works with coaches to develop practice and workout schedules.

He protects student-athletes from the opposition and sometimes from themselves, and enjoys the challenge of getting patients back to competition in a timely manner while preserving the paramount importance of their health and wellbeing.

His favorite part of the profession is seeing freshmen grow into seniors and beyond — eventually, hopefully, returning with their spouses and children to thank VCU's athletic trainers for the role they played in their lives.

"Sports helps them develop so much as a person," he said.

"So the way I view it is I’m there to help them achieve their dreams, whatever they might be."

In a demanding profession, Collins hopes his recognition as the D-I national trainer of the year can help shine a spotlight on the work his peers do.

VCU Health Sports Medicine trainer Jeff Collins poses for a photo on Wednesday after being named Division I athletic trainer of the year.

He said there is much to be done in terms of making working conditions better for college athletic trainers, and hopes his story can help make life better for people who hope to enter his profession because they, like Collins, simply want to help people, and often also like sports.

"It's not a job for people that just want to get a paycheck and work 9 to 5," Collins said, leaning up against his desk as the training room emptied around his office.

"It's a job that you really have to be truly passionate about, and you have to enjoy it to it to be successful at it."

Virginia Commonwealth's Adrian Baldwin Jr., right, celebrates after making a three-point shot during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game as Javon Pickett (4) reacts in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Saturday, March 11, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

VCU's Jayden Nunn (team-high 18 points) and Jalen DeLoach (9 points) celebrate during the second half of the Rams' dominating win over Saint Louis in the A-10 semifinals. VCU shot 55.7% (34 of 61) from the floor despite cooling late and hit 9 of 19 3-point attempts (47.4%).

VCU's Zeb Jackson (left) and Saint Louis' Jake Forrester wrestle for control of the ball during the Rams' win in the Atlantic 10 semifinals.

Mike Rhoades and the Rams have won 21 of their last 24 games.

VCU coach Mike Rhoades

VCU is the Atlantic 10 men's basketball champion, and will start NCAA tournament play this week as a No. 12 seed.

VCU players pose for photographs after their NCAA college basketball game against Dayton in the Atlantic 10 tournament championship game in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Sunday. VCU won 68-56.

VCU's Adrian "Ace" Baldwin, Jr. prepares to depart Richmond on Wednesday for the VCU men's basketball team's first game in the 2023 NCAA tournament in Albany, NY.

VCU's Adrian "Ace" Baldwin, Jr. speaks to the press as the VCU men's basketball team prepared to depart Richmond on Wednesday for their first game in the 2023 NCAA tournament in Albany, NY.

VCU's Brandon Johns, Jr. poses for a photo with fans as the VCU men's basketball team prepared to depart Richmond on Wednesday for their first game in the 2023 NCAA tournament in Albany, NY.

VCU's Jayden Nunn shoots as Mitchell Saxen of Saint Mary's defends in the first half of the Rams’ season-ending loss. Nunn had 9 points and 7 rebounds.

Virginia Commonwealth guard Nick Kern Jr. (24) celebrates with teammates after their win over Saint Louis in an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, in Richmond, Va. (Shaban Athuman/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP)

VCU forward Jalen DeLoach (4) celebrates a basket against UMass on Jan. 17 at the Siegel Center.

VCU forward Jalen DeLoach (4) drives to the basket as UMass forward Wildens Leveque (0) defends during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

UMass forward Gianni Thompson (13) shoots two as VCU guard Nick Kern Jr. (24) and guard Jayden Nunn (23) defend during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU forward Brandon Johns Jr. (30) dunks over UMass forward Dyondre Dominguez (45) during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU guard Nick Kern Jr. (24) dunks during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU guard Zeb Jackson (2) shoots over UMass forward Isaac Kante (10) during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU guard Nick Kern Jr. (24) dunks during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU guard Zeb Jackson (2) shoots over UMass forward Isaac Kante (10) during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU guard Josh Banks (33) celebrates his 3-pointer against Massachusetts on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023 at the Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU guard Nick Kern Jr. (24) dunks over UMass guard Rahsool Diggins (3) during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU guard Nick Kern Jr. dunks over UMass guard Rahsool Diggins during a game at the Siegel Center in Richmond on Jan. 17.

VCU forward Jalen DeLoach (4) drives to the basket as UMass forward Wildens Leveque (0) defends during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU forward David Shriver (35) celebrates his three points during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

UMass guard Keon Thompson (22) drives to the basket as VCU guard Ace Baldwin (1) tries to steal the ball during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU guard Nick Kern Jr. (24) dunks over UMass guard Rahsool Diggins (3) during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU forward Jalen DeLoach (4) celebrates his two points during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU guard Nick Kern Jr. (24) dunks over UMass guard Rahsool Diggins (3) during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU guard Nick Kern Jr. (24) dunks over UMass guard Rahsool Diggins (3) during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU guard Nick Kern Jr. (24) dunks on UMass forward Wildens Leveque (0) during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU's Jayden Nunn gets off a shot past Massachusetts' Brandon Martin (right) and Matt Cross. Nunn scored 13 points, one of five Rams to finish in double figures.

VCU forward Jamir Watkins (0) shoots over UMass guard T.J. Weeks Jr. (23) during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU forward Jamir Watkins (0) celebrates his three points during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU's Zeb Jackson, a transfer from Michigan who has provided an offensive spark, scored 2 of his 12 points off the bench the easy way in the Rams' win over Massachusetts on Tuesday.

VCU guard Ace Baldwin runs into resistance from Massachusetts’ Dyondre Dominguez as the Minutemen's Isaac Kante looks on during the Rams’ Atlantic 10 victory at the Siegel Center. Despite Baldwin scoring just 2 points, the Rams won for the ninth time in their past 10 games.

VCU guard Nick Kern Jr. (24) shoots over UMass forward Wildens Leveque (0) during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU forward Jalen DeLoach (4) talks to head coach Mike Rhoades during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU forward Jalen DeLoach (4) shoots as UMass forward Matt Cross (33) and forward Brandon Martin (1) helps during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU guard Nick Kern Jr., left, celebrates his dunk with forward Jalen DeLoach during a game against UMass at the Siegel Center in Richmond on Jan. 17.

UMass forward Matt Cross (33) shoots two over VCU forward Jamir Watkins (0) during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

UMass guard T.J. Weeks Jr. (23) gets his ball stolen by VCU guard Ace Baldwin (1) as guard Jayden Nunn (23) helps during a NCAA basketball game between UMass and VCU on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

VCU's Jamir Watkins, center, shoots against Richmond's Neal Quinn, left, and Andre Gustavson, right, during the second half of the NCAA men's basketball game at University of Richmond, Richmond, Va., on Friday, January 20, 2023.

Richmond's Matt Grace (left) and VCU's Brandon Johns Jr. battle for control of the ball in the second half. Johns scored 12 points for the victorious Rams, who have won 10 of their past 11 games.

VCU's Jamir Watkins, right, looks on his shot as Richmond's Tyler Burton works on defense during the second half of the NCAA men's basketball game at University of Richmond, Richmond, Va., on Friday, January 20, 2023.

VCU's Jamir Watkins, right, tries to control a ball against Richmond's Tyler Burton works on defense during the second half of the NCAA men's basketball game at University of Richmond, Richmond, Va., on Friday, January 20, 2023.

VCU's players celebrate a three-point shot and team's lead against Richmond during the second half of the NCAA men's basketball game at University of Richmond, Richmond, Va., on Friday, January 20, 2023.

Richmond's Neal Quinn, left, passes by VCU's Jalen DeLoach during the first half of the NCAA men's basketball game at University of Richmond, Richmond, Va., on Friday, January 20, 2023.

Richmond's Jason Nelson is harrassed by VCU's Ace Baldwin in the first half of the Rams’ Atlantic 10 victory at the Robins Center. Nelson, a freshman getting his first taste of the UR-VCU rivalry, scored 5 points. Baldwin finished with 14.

Richmond's Matt Grace shoots over VCU's Jalen DeLoach in the first half. Grace scored 13 points, while DeLoach, coming off a 19-point, 12-rebound outing in a win over UMass, scored just 2.

VCU's Ace Baldwin is one of four players to be voted the Atlantic 10's best player and best defensive player in the same season.

VCU's Jamir Watkins has provided a spark off the bench, scoring at least 10 points in four straight games and five of six.

VCU's Jalen DeLoach rejected this shot attempt by Fordham's Kyle Rose during a Feb. 18 game for one of his team-leading 46 blocks on the season.

VCU's Brandon Johns, Jr. (No. 30) dunks during the second half of Saturday's game against Davidson at the Siegel Center in Richmond, VA on January 7, 2023. VCU won the game 89-72. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH

VCU's Brandon Johns, Jr. (No. 30) celebrates after dunking during the second half of Saturday's game against Davidson at the Siegel Center in Richmond, VA on January 7, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH

VCU's Toibu "Tobi" Lawal (No. 10) rises above Davidson's Connor Kochera (No. 23) and Reed Bailey (No. 1) during the second half of Saturday's game at the Siegel Center in Richmond, VA on January 7, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH

VCU's Brandon Johns, Jr. (No. 30) and David Shriver (No. 35) struggle with Davidson's Sean Logan (No. 15) over the ball during the first half of Saturday's game at the Siegel Center in Richmond, VA on January 7, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH

Davidson's Foster Loyer (No. 0) struggles to get past VCU's Adrian "Ace" Baldwin, Jr. (No. 1) and David Shriver (No. 35) during the first half of Saturday's game at the Siegel Center in Richmond, VA on January 7, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH

VCU's Nick Kern, Jr. (no. 24) jumps to block a shot by Davidson's Foster Loyer(No. 0) during the first half of Saturday's game at the Siegel Center in Richmond, VA on January 7, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH

Davidson's head coach Matt McKillop motions to his team from the sideline during the first half of Saturday's game against VCU at the Siegel Center in Richmond, VA on January 7, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH

VCU's Nick Kern Jr. (24) drives past Davidson's David Skogman (42) during the first half of Saturday's game at the Siegel Center in Richmond, Va., on January 7, 2023.

VCU's David Shriver (No. 35) shoots over Davidson's David Skogman (No. 42) during the first half of Saturday's game at the Siegel Center in Richmond, VA on January 7, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH

The crowd reacts after a VCU basket during the first half of Saturday's game against Davidson at the Siegel Center in Richmond, VA on January 7, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH

VCU's Brandon Johns, Jr. (No. 30) tries to work around Davidson's Reed Bailey (No. 1) during the first half of Saturday's game at the Siegel Center in Richmond, VA on January 7, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH

VCU's Zeb Jackson (No. 2) drives around Davidson's Connor Kochera (No. 23) during the first half of Saturday's game at the Siegel Center in Richmond, VA on January 7, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH

VCU's Adrian "Ace" Baldwin, Jr. (No. 1) shoots over Davidson's Foster Loyer (No. 0) during the first half of Saturday's game at the Siegel Center in Richmond, VA on January 7, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH

VCU's Nick Kern, Jr. (No. 23) celebrates with his teammates during the second half of Saturday's game at the Siegel Center in Richmond, VA on January 7, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH

VCU's head coach Mike Rhoades reacts during Saturday's game against Davidson at Siegel Center in Richmond, VA on January 7, 2023. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH

VCU celebrates after an NCAA college basketball game against Dayton in the championship of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament on Sunday.

Virginia Commonwealth poses for photographs after an NCAA college basketball game against Dayton in the championship of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, Sunday, March 12, 2023, in New York. Virginia Commonwealth won 68-56. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Ace Baldwin Jr., the Atlantic 10 player of the year this past season, is following former VCU coach Mike Rhoades to Penn State.

VCU's David Shriver has made 15 of 19 3-pointers in the past three games, elevating his 3-point shooting percentage to 39.5 and his average to 7.2 points in 18.7 minutes.

Kern

VCU's fans cheer for the team against Richmond during the second half of the NCAA men's basketball game at University of Richmond, Richmond, Va., on Friday, January 20, 2023.

Zach Joachim (804) 649-6555

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Twitter: @ZachJoachim

Jeff Collins, a VCU Health Sports Medicine trainer talks about earning Division I athletics trainer of the year.

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