Russell J. “Rusty” McKune, A.T.C.
Rusty McKune attributes his interest in athletic training to his high school athletic trainer, Frances “Frani” Jenkins. While in high school, she opened his eyes to the experiences and rewards that this profession holds.
Rusty received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1994 and his master’s degree from Ohio University in 1995. He spent two years in Wichita, Kansas with Via Christi Regional Medical Center. In 1997, Rusty accepted a position at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he spent the next 15 years. At UNO, he served as an Assistant Athletic Trainer and Instructor until 2006 when he became the Head Athletic Trainer. In 2012, Rusty left UNO to become the Sports Medicine Program Coordinator at The Nebraska Medical Center.
Rusty was the recipient of the 2010 George F. Sullivan NSATA Athletic Trainer of the Year Award and the 2011 BOC Public Advocacy Award. In 2012 he was awarded an Athletic Trainer Service Award by the NATA.
Rusty is actively involved in the athletic training profession at all levels. He has been a member and chair of the NSATA Governmental Affairs Committee and served on the NSATA Executive Board as Secretary, Vice-President, President, and Past-President. He was a member of the MAATA Board of Directors for 4 years. He serves as the Chair of the District V Governmental Affairs Committee. In 2013, he was elected to the BOC Board of Directors.
“The greatest accomplishments of my professional career are derived from those opportunities to serve the NSATA and NATA membership and to give back to a profession that has provided me with so much.” Rusty emphasizes though, that anything he has achieved professionally would not have been possible without the support, commitment, and sacrifice of his wife, Jennifer and their three children, Nicholas, Blake and Chase.
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