General | 6/3/2021 2:02:00 PM
Alfred University Athletics has announced the promotion of
Ronald Demchak as the Head Athletic Trainer following a national search. Demchak, who served as the co-head athletic trainer on an interim basis midway through the 2020-21 school year, began his expanded role on Tuesday, June 1.
In his permanent role, Demchak will continue to lead a staff of six sports medicine professionals and graduate assistants as well as a host of student-workers in evaluating, treating, and preventing sports injuries, improving the general well-being of Alfred University's student-athletes. Demchak will also serve as the primary athletic training contact for the women's soccer, men's basketball, women's lacrosse, and alpine skiing programs.
"I am delighted to elevate Ron into the role of Head Athletic Trainer, a position he has richly earned based on his work over the past two years, but particularly because of the incredible work he did this past year while we came through the COVID 19 pandemic," said
Paul Vecchio, Director of Athletics. "He, and our entire athletic training staff's efforts, were absolutely critical to the successes we had this year in having all of our Empire 8-affiliated programs able to compete.
Ron has big shoes to fill in Jessica Hurlbut, who so ably oversaw the staff for seven years, but he is up to the task, and I look forward to assisting him as we continue to elevate our athletic training department amongst the very finest in Division III athletics."
Ronald Demchak
This past season, Demchak and his staff navigated the return to athletic competition, keeping student-athletes and staff safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. They helped administer tests, set return-to-play guidelines, and worked alongside Alfred University's 20 athletic programs while adhering to changing state and county COVID-19 regulations.
"The last six months have been some of the most challenging in my career but through it all Alfred University has become my home," Demchak said. "I am extremely grateful and eager for this opportunity to serve as the Head Athletic Trainer and continue the legacy of a strong Sports Medicine department while pushing it to new heights to benefit our student athlete population."
Demchak arrived at Alfred University in the summer of 2019 after a four-year stint serving as the Athletic Trainer for Iroquois High School located in Erie, Pa. where he was placed by UPMC Hamot. Within this role his primary responsibilities included preventing, treating and rehabbing sports injuries. He also scheduled for clinical experiences for student athletic trainers and assisted the Physical Therapist within the sports medicine clinic when needed.
While working at Iroquois High School, Demchak also served as the Certified Athletic Trainer at Erie Premier Sports until August of 2017. In that role, he provided medical coverage for all sports camps that were held on the premises.
Demchak is not unfamiliar with Alfred, N.Y. as he served as the Assistant Athletic Trainer at Alfred State College in 2015. His responsibilities there included maintaining overall health of student-athletes, while serving as the primary trainer for track & field and baseball. He also coordinated and provided medical coverage for the local Special Olympics hosted by Alfred State College. While working with the Pioneers, Demchak worked with Alfred University student athletic trainers, scheduling their hours and overseeing their clinical experiences.