Oklahoma Sooners hire new head athletic trainer

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The Oklahoma Sooners had a vacant spot at head football athletic trainer, and they filled that hole in their staff on Friday.

OU hired Justin Smith, formerly of NC State to fill the position that had been vacated when Jonathan Gress left for the Tennessee Titans. Smith has been the head trainer NC State since 2015, and he also had that role at Appalachian State from 2007 to 2014.

Head coach Brent Venables expressed his excitement for Smith's arrival, and detailed some of what Smith should bring to the Sooners.

"We’re super excited to welcome Justin Smith to our program as head football athletic trainer," Venables said. "He brings tremendous wisdom and experience in the medical space and is one of the absolute best in his field. On top of his knowledge and expertise, Justin thrives in the areas of leadership, communication and consistency. He also intimately understands the rhythm and cadence of football players’ year-round schedules, and he’s a relationship-driven person. That’s extremely important in our football program here at Oklahoma. We’re incredibly happy he and his family are Sooners."

This is the third straight year that the OU football training department will have a different look, as the Sooners try to avoid the bad injury wave that helped derail their first season in the SEC in 2024.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners hire new head athletic trainer

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