Piedmont University Athletics

Dr. Matt McKinney enters his 14th year overall at Piedmont and 11th as Head Athletic Trainer in the fall of 2023. In 2021, McKinney's title was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Performance and Athletic Training. 

McKinney was an assistant within the athletic training staff from 2007-2010 before then heading to fellow USA South member LaGrange College for three years. McKinney then took over as Head Athletic Trainer when he returned to Piedmont in the fall of 2013. 

With experience in every sport Piedmont offers to student-athletes, McKinney oversees the operation of strength and conditioning and the athletic training department supervising a staff that includes an Associate Head Athletic Trainer, three Assistant Athletic Trainers and a Strength and Conditioning Coordinator.
 
During his first stint at Piedmont as an Assistant Athletic Trainer, McKinney’s duties included managing the day-to-day operations of the training room, the completion of student-athlete insurance claims, the evaluation of injuries to student-athletes, and the development of plans to return to play including injury rehabilitation.  Additionally, McKinney stepped in to serve as the acting Head Athletic Trainer twice on an interim basis.
 
While pursuing his graduate degree, McKinney served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at Marshall University, a NCAA Division I member located in Huntington, West Virginia.  While with the Thundering Herd, McKinney worked with several sports throughout the department including football, volleyball, men’s soccer, women’s tennis, and cheerleading.
 
At Marshall, he gained valuable experience with elite level athletes developing injury rehabilitation programs and operating the NCAA ISS injury tracking software as well.  Additionally, McKinney supervised some of the program’s student athletic trainers gaining management experience from the outset of his career in athletic training.
  
McKinney earned his bachelor of science in athletic training from High Point University in May of 2005. Two years later, McKinney attained his master of science in exercise science with an emphasis in athletic training from Marshall University. In 2020, McKinney earned his doctorate of education in global sport leadership from East Tennessee State University. 
 
McKinney is certified through the BOC and also licensed as an Athletic Trainer in the state of Georgia. He is a Professional Rescuer in CPR, First Aid, and AED and a member of several professional organizations including the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA). He also owns membership in three state athletic trainer organizations including North Carolina, West Virginia, and Georgia.

Last updated 7/23