University of Georgia Athletics
Ron Courson Transitioning To Administrative Support Role
January 24, 2025 | Football
ATHENS, Ga. --- Ron Courson will be transitioning away from his longtime role as the University of Georgia's head athletic trainer for football and continuing to develop his position as the UGA Athletic Association's Executive Associate Athletic Director for Athletic Health and Performance on February 1.
Courson, who served as UGAAA's Director of Sports Medicine for 30 years, was promoted to Executive Associate Athletic Director in February 2021 after previously serving as a Senior Associate Athletic Director.
"Over the last three decades, Ron Courson and his department have set the standard for athletic training and sports medicine," J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Josh Brooks said. "Ron has been a leader in his field, while serving the University of Georgia Athletic Association with grace and humility. His accomplishments are many, but his greatest achievements are the countless individuals he mentored and the influence he had on so many of our student-athletes. Thank you, Ron, for your friendship and your tremendous dedication to the Bulldog family."
"Ron's contributions left an indelible mark on our program, ensuring his legacy as an innovator in athletic training and sports mental health and wellness," said head coach Kirby Smart. "The time, focus and attention that he put into our student-athletes was extraordinary and unmatched. I could not be more grateful for the time I had working with Ron."
Serving at UGA since 1995, Courson most recently helped navigate the Athletic Association, and especially the football program, through the nation-wide Pandemic serving and supporting the development of policy and protocols at the local, Southeastern Conference and NCAA levels.
Prior to joining the UGA staff in 1995, Courson served as Director of Rehabilitation at the University of Alabama from 1991-1995 and Director of Rehabilitation with Samford University from 1989-1991. He received his undergraduate degree in education/physical education from Samford University, performed two years of graduate work at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, and graduated with honors from the Medical College of Georgia with a degree in physical therapy. Courson is a national registered advanced emergency medical technician as well as a certified strength and conditioning specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
During his career in sports medicine, Courson has also been involved in many athletic training activities including work as an athletic trainer with the U.S. Olympic Team at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea; 1990 Goodwill Games; 1987 World University Games, 1987 Pan American Games and the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. He served as the chief athletic trainer for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials as well as the chief athletic trainer for track and field for the Atlanta Committee for the 1996 Olympic Games (ACOG).
Courson is active in his profession, having served as the president of the SEC Sports Medicine Committee, chairman of the College and University Athletic Trainers' Committee of the National Athletic Trainers' Association and as a member of the NCAA Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports committee. He is a past medical liaison to the American Football Coaches Association and serves currently on the NFL Health and Safety Committee and the USA Football Medical Advisory Board.
Ron received the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer award in 2005 from the National Athletic Trainers' Association and was inducted into the Southeast Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame in 2011 and the National Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame in 2013. Most recently, Courson was inducted into the Georgia Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in January 2018.
Courson serves as an adjunct instructor in the department of kinesiology at the University of Georgia, teaching in the nationally accredited athletic training education program. He is active in research and education in the field of sports medicine, having authored a textbook, "Athletic Training Emergency Care", a number of professional papers and text chapters and presents frequently at regional and national sports medicine meetings.
Courson is married to the former Eileen O'Connell of Waycross, Georgia. Ron and Eileen have four children, John, Anna, Luke and Will.
Courson, who served as UGAAA's Director of Sports Medicine for 30 years, was promoted to Executive Associate Athletic Director in February 2021 after previously serving as a Senior Associate Athletic Director.
"Over the last three decades, Ron Courson and his department have set the standard for athletic training and sports medicine," J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Josh Brooks said. "Ron has been a leader in his field, while serving the University of Georgia Athletic Association with grace and humility. His accomplishments are many, but his greatest achievements are the countless individuals he mentored and the influence he had on so many of our student-athletes. Thank you, Ron, for your friendship and your tremendous dedication to the Bulldog family."
"Ron's contributions left an indelible mark on our program, ensuring his legacy as an innovator in athletic training and sports mental health and wellness," said head coach Kirby Smart. "The time, focus and attention that he put into our student-athletes was extraordinary and unmatched. I could not be more grateful for the time I had working with Ron."
Serving at UGA since 1995, Courson most recently helped navigate the Athletic Association, and especially the football program, through the nation-wide Pandemic serving and supporting the development of policy and protocols at the local, Southeastern Conference and NCAA levels.
Prior to joining the UGA staff in 1995, Courson served as Director of Rehabilitation at the University of Alabama from 1991-1995 and Director of Rehabilitation with Samford University from 1989-1991. He received his undergraduate degree in education/physical education from Samford University, performed two years of graduate work at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, and graduated with honors from the Medical College of Georgia with a degree in physical therapy. Courson is a national registered advanced emergency medical technician as well as a certified strength and conditioning specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
During his career in sports medicine, Courson has also been involved in many athletic training activities including work as an athletic trainer with the U.S. Olympic Team at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea; 1990 Goodwill Games; 1987 World University Games, 1987 Pan American Games and the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. He served as the chief athletic trainer for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials as well as the chief athletic trainer for track and field for the Atlanta Committee for the 1996 Olympic Games (ACOG).
Courson is active in his profession, having served as the president of the SEC Sports Medicine Committee, chairman of the College and University Athletic Trainers' Committee of the National Athletic Trainers' Association and as a member of the NCAA Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports committee. He is a past medical liaison to the American Football Coaches Association and serves currently on the NFL Health and Safety Committee and the USA Football Medical Advisory Board.
Ron received the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer award in 2005 from the National Athletic Trainers' Association and was inducted into the Southeast Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame in 2011 and the National Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame in 2013. Most recently, Courson was inducted into the Georgia Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in January 2018.
Courson serves as an adjunct instructor in the department of kinesiology at the University of Georgia, teaching in the nationally accredited athletic training education program. He is active in research and education in the field of sports medicine, having authored a textbook, "Athletic Training Emergency Care", a number of professional papers and text chapters and presents frequently at regional and national sports medicine meetings.
Courson is married to the former Eileen O'Connell of Waycross, Georgia. Ron and Eileen have four children, John, Anna, Luke and Will.
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