Douglas J. Long, Ph.D, A.T.C.
Doug has been fortunate to be first in many positions, many of which have allowed him to be an active member of the athletic training profession. He was the first in his family to attend college. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in 1984 from Kearney State College, a Master’s degree in Exercise Science at Fort Hays State University in 1985, and a PhD in 2008 from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln.
Doug was the first and youngest Head Athletic Trainer at Chadron State College from 1985 to 1989. Doug returned to North Platte, Nebraska, to start one of the first clinical athletic training programs in the state providing athletic training coverage to thirteen educational entities in the North Platte area.
He was the first NSATA President to reside outside Lincoln or Omaha. Doug was the first athletic trainer to receive the Caring Kind Award from the Nebraska Hospital Association for exemplary customer/patient care.
As a member for over thirty years, Doug has been active at all levels of the association. Between 1988 and 1998, Doug held NSATA offices of Public Relations Chair, Secretary/Treasurer, Vice-President, and President. Doug was the Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposium Coordinator for the Mid-America Athletic Trainers’ Association from 1998 to 2004.
In 2004, Doug was appointed to the MAATA Board of Directors as Interim Secretary and was elected to two terms of his own. He also served on the NATA District Secretary/Treasurer’s Committee. He was subsequently elected to District President in 2011.
\
\
\
\
