ST. PAUL, Minn. – For the first time since 1988, the University of Northwestern will have a new leader in the Sports Medicine Department. Brent Cramer, who is in his seventh year as a UNW athletic trainer, has been promoted to the position of Head Athletic Trainer.

"I am grateful for the opportunity and challenge of being the head athletic trainer," said Cramer. "I am also very grateful for my predecessor, Dave Hieb, for giving me the opportunity to be the head athletic trainer and to be able to have him around to still guide me."

Hieb, who has led the Sports Medicine Department for 33 years, is excited for Cramer. "Brent has been a tremendous asset to our athletic community," said Heib. "He deserves the promotion to take our sports medicine program to an elite level." A cornerstone of the Northwestern athletics department, Heib is continuing his athletic training work and will be starting his 27^th season as the UNW Head Baseball Coach in the spring.

Cramer graduated from Bethel University with a bachelor of arts degree in athletic training in 2014. He then earned his master's degree in organizational leadership from UNW in 2016.

In addition to his work at UNW, Cramer has served as a member of the National Athletic Trainer's Association, Great Lakes Athletic Trainer's Association, Minnesota Athletic Trainer's Association, and at Twin Cities Orthopedics.

"This is a well-deserved promotion for Brent as he has served our student athletes for seven years," said Director of Athletics Dr. Matt Hill. "Last year, UNW led the country in games played for NCAA Division III and a big part of that was because of the hard work Brent did regarding Covid testing and safety protocols. Our student athletes and staff are excited to have Brent in this new role."

Cramer is passionate about helping student-athletes and is always looking for ways in which the department can better serve them.

"I have a desire to enhance the experience student-athletes have in our realm," said Cramer. "Usually when they need our assistance it means they are at their lowest and wanting to improve that in any way. It is our job to build them up spiritually, emotionally, and physically back to their sport."

Working at the University of Northwestern has been a tremendous experience for Cramer, and he is looking forward to continuing his work here for many years to come.

"UNW is such a special place where everyone is pursuing one goal and that is making Christ known," said Cramer. "For me, that is the ultimate goal and the fact that it is aligned with my workplace is unreal."