Smith New Athletic Trainer

NEW PALTZ — Cumberland, Md. native Corey Smith has been hired as the new Head Athletic Trainer at SUNY New Paltz.

A 1999 graduate of West Virginia University with a Master’s degree in athletic training, Smith replaces Farron Bennett, who recently accepted a position at her undergraduate alma mater Cortland.

“Corey comes highly recommended and will be a fine addition to our staff,” Athletic Director Jim Zalacca said. “His knowledge and experience will serve our student-athletes well in the treatment, care and prevention of sports-related injuries.”

Most recently, Smith split his time between three schools – Indian Mountain, Pine Plains High and Webatuck High – where he served as Head Athletic Trainer, and also worked in the outpatient physical therapy clinic at Sharon Hospital in Connecticut.

“I’m very excited about starting this job,” Smith said. “My career plan has always been to get to the college level, where I can best use my abilities.”

When speaking about some of the objectives he will look to accomplish in his new position, Smith said, “I want to be accessible to the coaches and student-athletes as much as is humanly possible. Taking care of them when they first get hurt is only a small part of what I do. Getting them (safely) back out there is the most important thing.”

And he is looking forward to sharing his knowledge with an eager group of student-trainers.

“I want to help them along,” Smith said. “They’re going to learn as much about the body, joint-by-joint, as they can. They’re my responsibility when they’re out there, and they need to know what they’re doing.”

Smith is a certified American Red Cross Adult, Child and Infant CPR and First Aid Instructor. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education with a concentration in Athletic Training from Frostburg State University in 1996, where from 1993-96 he was a student-athletic trainer.