GREENSBORO – Frank Garcia is in his first year as an assistant athletic trainer here at UNC Greensboro (UNCG).
 
He enjoyed a memorable initial year as a Spartan as he worked with the men's basketball program, which won the Southern Conference regular season and postseason tournament championships and participated in the 2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
 
"What I enjoy the most about being an athletic trainer is building and developing strong, long-lasting relationships with the student-athletes," Garcia said. "Every year, creates a new set of challenges that we all face together and the experiences and bonds that this profession affords me is something I will always cherish about being an athletic trainer."
 
Garcia has been a blessing to the Spartan family with his experience and fun personality.  
 
Having spent the previous two years working as an Assistant Athletic Trainer with Appalachian State men's basketball and men's tennis, Garcia brings a deep set of knowledge and experience working with hoops in the state of North Carolina. 
 
He remains a lead medical director at Global Event Medicine (GEM), where he has primarily run the medical teams for USA Volleyball tournaments during the basketball offseason. Garcia has worked with the organization for the past decade. 

Prior to his time in Boone, Garcia spent a season working as an Assistant Athletic Trainer with Stetson University's men's basketball and rowing programs in DeLand, Fla., following a two-year stint at the same position with Northern Illinois' women's basketball and tennis. He also brings three years experience working with MidAmerica Nazarene University, where he was the primary trainer for women's volleyball and both men's and women's basketball. 

Earning his Bachelors of Science in Athletic Training from Park University (2012), Garcia also has a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Kansas (2014), where he held AT responsibilities for multiple training and skills camps associated with Jayhawk football, softball, soccer, volleyball and women's basketball. 
 
National Athletic Training Month is held every March to spread awareness about the important work of athletic trainers. "Essential to Health Care" is the theme of this year's National Athletic Training Month, which is sponsored by the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), a not-for-profit organization based in Dallas, Texas.

"I think the profession is very special for a lot of reasons," Garcia said. "Mainly, not much of the general public really knows what we do.  People don't necessarily understand the amount of schooling and education we have in order to perform our jobs successfully.  We work a lot of hours behind the scenes to make sure that our student-athletes are getting the best possible healthcare.  It is a job that is not done in the spotlight and doesn't get a lot of attention but has such a profound impact on the success of each team and each student-athlete."