Troy University Athletics
Ash Inducted Into State Hall of Fame
5/19/2008 5:00:00 AM | General
DESTIN, Fla. ? Troy University head athletic trainer Chuck Ash joined an elite group on Saturday when he was inducted into the Alabama Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame.
The ceremony was held at a luncheon as a part of the association's annual summer meeting at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
Ash, who has served as a Athletic Trainer at Troy since 1987, was one of two new members inducted into the Hall of Fame, which was founded in 1995. He was joined in the 2008 class by Marshall Smith of Dothan, who served as head trainer at Troy prior to Ash.
“I didn't look at this as a personal award, but more of a recognition for all of the great people I have been associated with over the years,” Ash said. “I have been very fortunate to have had an opportunity to work with some of the best in sports medicine ? Doc Anderson, Dr. James Andrews, Dr. James Whiteside and Dr. Jeffrey Dugas ? and they deserve as much credit, or more, than I do.”
Anderson, who served as head trainer at Troy from 1967-79, and still serves on the faculty at Troy University in the athletic training program, said he knew Ash had a chance to become a good trainer when he was a student.
“The thing that stands out most about Chuck is that he has good, common, old-fashioned, country wisdom,” Anderson, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999, said. “He is a bright guy, but he has a lot of common sense. It hasn't been easy for Chuck to move this program from Division II to I-AA to where we are now with limited resources. He has great interaction with his students, and that makes a huge difference.”
Ash is a 1978 Troy University graduate who got his start as a graduate assistant for Anderson. He moved on to serve as athletic trainer at Central High School in Phenix City from 1980-82 and then at Early County High School in Georgia from 1982-87. He also served as head baseball coach at Early County before returning to his alma mater in 1987.
“I am very honored and humbled by the whole thing,” Ash said. “To be included in a group that includes some of the very founders of our profession, like Jim Goosetree from Alabama and Kenny Howard from Auburn, is a great honor.”
The Alabama Athletic Trainers Association has almost 500 members from across the state.
