Longtime Spartan Athletic Trainer Dave Carrier to Retire
6/23/2020 11:27:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING – Michigan State associate head athletic trainer Dave Carrier will be retiring from the University, effective June 30. Carrier, who is one of the longest-tenured athletic trainers at any one institution in the nation, has served as the Michigan State hockey team athletic trainer for 36 seasons.
"I am extremely fortunate to have been a part of Michigan State University for four decades," Carrier said. "Working two Olympics, being a part of two National Championship teams, serving on district, state and national committees and being a part of our profession's hall of fame were all because of MSU and the people with which I was able to work. I owe my entire professional career to Spartans."
"We all owe Dave a huge amount of gratitude for all he has done for MSU and our hockey program," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "I have had the opportunity to work with Dave as a student-athlete, an alum and now a coach and the care and professionalism he has exhibited for everyone cannot be measured. We will miss him greatly but know he will always be a part of Spartan Hockey."
Carrier is retiring as one of the longest-tenured and most respected athletic trainers in hockey. In June 2015, he was inducted into the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Hall of Fame, becoming the eighth athletic trainer from MSU to be voted into the hall. In 2016, he was named the recipient of the Jim Fullerton Award by the American Hockey Coaches Association, recognizing his love for the purity of the sport.
From the time his career began in 1979, Carrier has worked over 1,600 hockey games.
In his 36 seasons with the Spartan hockey program, Carrier was a part of two National Championships (1986, 2007), seven regular season CCHA titles and eight league tournament crowns. In 2013, the native of Albion was promoted to Associate Head Athletic Trainer.
Carrier's career also includes an extensive international competition, including working two Olympic Games. At the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary, he served as the athletic trainer for the hockey team. He took part in the Winter Games again in 1992, working with ski jumpers and Nordic track athletes. Carrier also worked two U.S. Olympic Festivals in 1986 and '87 and spent time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in 1985.
In the spring of 1990, USA Hockey tabbed him as the team's head athletic trainer for the World Championships in Bern, Switzerland.
In 2012, alongside MSU colleagues Dr. John Powell and Sally Nogle, Carrier was honored by the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association (GLATA) with its Outstanding Educator Award. He was chosen in 2007 to become an Honored Member of the Cambridge Who's Who, which recognizes executives and professionals from around the country. In 2005, Carrier received the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award at the NATA convention and was inducted into the Michigan Athletics Trainers Hall of Fame.
Carrier was a 1997 Michigan Athletic Trainers Distinguished Award winner and in 1998 he earned the Service Award from the National Athletic Trainers Association for his dedication and contributions to the profession. Also in 1998, Carrier earned the Research and Education Foundation's inaugural Volunteer of the Year Award and was named an honorary member of the MSU Varsity S Club. The 1992 MSU Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award winner has served as President of the Michigan Athletic Trainers Society.
Carrier began his long and distinguished career at his alma mater, Ferris State, in 1979. He served as assistant coordinator of sports medicine for five years for the Bulldogs before arriving in East Lansing. He received a bachelor's of science degree in physical education from Ferris in 1979 and a master's degree in exercise science from Central Michigan in 1983.
Carrier served in the United States Army from 1971-1973. He was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, where he earned the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service.
He has served as President of the Duck Lake Country Club on five separate occasions.
"I am extremely fortunate to have been a part of Michigan State University for four decades," Carrier said. "Working two Olympics, being a part of two National Championship teams, serving on district, state and national committees and being a part of our profession's hall of fame were all because of MSU and the people with which I was able to work. I owe my entire professional career to Spartans."
"We all owe Dave a huge amount of gratitude for all he has done for MSU and our hockey program," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "I have had the opportunity to work with Dave as a student-athlete, an alum and now a coach and the care and professionalism he has exhibited for everyone cannot be measured. We will miss him greatly but know he will always be a part of Spartan Hockey."
Carrier is retiring as one of the longest-tenured and most respected athletic trainers in hockey. In June 2015, he was inducted into the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Hall of Fame, becoming the eighth athletic trainer from MSU to be voted into the hall. In 2016, he was named the recipient of the Jim Fullerton Award by the American Hockey Coaches Association, recognizing his love for the purity of the sport.
From the time his career began in 1979, Carrier has worked over 1,600 hockey games.
In his 36 seasons with the Spartan hockey program, Carrier was a part of two National Championships (1986, 2007), seven regular season CCHA titles and eight league tournament crowns. In 2013, the native of Albion was promoted to Associate Head Athletic Trainer.
Carrier's career also includes an extensive international competition, including working two Olympic Games. At the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary, he served as the athletic trainer for the hockey team. He took part in the Winter Games again in 1992, working with ski jumpers and Nordic track athletes. Carrier also worked two U.S. Olympic Festivals in 1986 and '87 and spent time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in 1985.
In the spring of 1990, USA Hockey tabbed him as the team's head athletic trainer for the World Championships in Bern, Switzerland.
In 2012, alongside MSU colleagues Dr. John Powell and Sally Nogle, Carrier was honored by the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association (GLATA) with its Outstanding Educator Award. He was chosen in 2007 to become an Honored Member of the Cambridge Who's Who, which recognizes executives and professionals from around the country. In 2005, Carrier received the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award at the NATA convention and was inducted into the Michigan Athletics Trainers Hall of Fame.
Carrier was a 1997 Michigan Athletic Trainers Distinguished Award winner and in 1998 he earned the Service Award from the National Athletic Trainers Association for his dedication and contributions to the profession. Also in 1998, Carrier earned the Research and Education Foundation's inaugural Volunteer of the Year Award and was named an honorary member of the MSU Varsity S Club. The 1992 MSU Jack Breslin Distinguished Staff Award winner has served as President of the Michigan Athletic Trainers Society.
Carrier began his long and distinguished career at his alma mater, Ferris State, in 1979. He served as assistant coordinator of sports medicine for five years for the Bulldogs before arriving in East Lansing. He received a bachelor's of science degree in physical education from Ferris in 1979 and a master's degree in exercise science from Central Michigan in 1983.
Carrier served in the United States Army from 1971-1973. He was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, where he earned the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service.
He has served as President of the Duck Lake Country Club on five separate occasions.
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