University of New Hampshire Athletics
Director of Sports Medicine Jon Dana to Retire
5/9/2024 10:00:00 AM | General
Longtime Athletic Trainer Spent 40 Years at UNH
DURHAM, N.H. – University of New Hampshire Director of Athletics Allison Rich announced Thursday that athletic trainer Jon Dana, who has treated Wildcat student-athletes for 40 years, will retire from his role as the University's Director of Sports Medicine, effective June 30.
"It is hard to accurately measure the full impact that JD's 40 years devoted to healing and rehabilitating thousands of our student-athletes has meant to UNH," Rich said. "This true Wildcat for Life has been a leader to our committed athletic training staff and an educator to hundreds of professionals in the sports medicine industry, while also impacting our region and beyond with more than four decades working the Boston Marathon and many appointments representing Team USA. We will miss Jon and wish him a happy and healthy retirement."
A national search to replace Dana will begin immediately.
Dana, a Lee, N.H., resident, began his UNH career in 1984 as an assistant athletic trainer. He was promoted to men's head athletic trainer in 1987 and head athletic trainer for the entire program in 1989. In 2001, he was named UNH's Director of Sports Medicine. In addition to overseeing operations and supervising the sports medicine staff, the Hempstead, N.Y., native worked specifically with the football and ski teams while managing a staff of full- and part-time certified and licensed athletic trainers.
"There is no possible way I can properly express what working in athletic training at UNH for this long has meant to me personally and professionally without forgetting to thank important people who have made such a difference in my life," Dana said. "So I won't even try. I'll just say thank you to all the student-athletes, co-workers, coaches and, most of all, my supportive family for allowing me the privilege to ride this ride as long as I have."
In 2020, Dana was named the Division I Head Athletic Trainer of the Year by the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) and the Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine (ICSM).
In 2014, Dana received NATA's Athletic Trainer Service Award for his contributions to the athletic training profession as a volunteer at the local and state levels. He garnered the 2014 Dr. Donald Grover Memorial Award from the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) for achieving outstanding success and making a significant contribution in the interest of intercollegiate athletics.
Dana has served as Drug Testing Site Coordinator and Head Athletic Trainer at various NCAA championship events, including men's and women's ice hockey and skiing.
Since 1980, Dana has worked as an athletic trainer at the Boston Marathon, serving as the team captain of the Finish Line Medical Area since 1996. Dana's international experience includes: representing the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and in four World Cups (Prague, Slovenia, Augsburg and Germany) as a member of the U.S. Canoe/Kayak team; working at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens; serving as a member of the U.S. Men's Team Handball squad at the Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic; and working with the U.S. Track and Field Team at the Paralympics World Championships in Lille, France. Additionally, he has worked at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Sacramento, Calif., and the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Dana is certified by the National Athletic Trainer's Association and is a licensed athletic trainer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In addition, Dana has a CPR Re-Certification and a Massachusetts Teacher Certification in physical education, health, and science.
The 1979 Northeastern University graduate began his athletic training career at Brookline and Newton South High Schools in Massachusetts, and then was the head athletic trainer at Fitchburg State College from 1980-84.
About UNH Athletics
UNH Athletics is committed to providing an outstanding student-athlete experience and fostering NCAA Division I teams that are a source of pride for the University community, the State of New Hampshire, and UNH alumni across the globe. UNH Athletics creates and sustains a culture committed to integrity, inclusion, respect, civic engagement, leadership, and academic achievement. These values are embedded in the pursuit of athletic excellence and contribute to an extraordinary student-athlete experience.
UNH Athletics is committed to supporting every team and student-athlete with the goal of competing for conference and national championships, and with an uncompromising resolve to achieve athletic, academic, and personal excellence.
"It is hard to accurately measure the full impact that JD's 40 years devoted to healing and rehabilitating thousands of our student-athletes has meant to UNH," Rich said. "This true Wildcat for Life has been a leader to our committed athletic training staff and an educator to hundreds of professionals in the sports medicine industry, while also impacting our region and beyond with more than four decades working the Boston Marathon and many appointments representing Team USA. We will miss Jon and wish him a happy and healthy retirement."
A national search to replace Dana will begin immediately.
Dana, a Lee, N.H., resident, began his UNH career in 1984 as an assistant athletic trainer. He was promoted to men's head athletic trainer in 1987 and head athletic trainer for the entire program in 1989. In 2001, he was named UNH's Director of Sports Medicine. In addition to overseeing operations and supervising the sports medicine staff, the Hempstead, N.Y., native worked specifically with the football and ski teams while managing a staff of full- and part-time certified and licensed athletic trainers.
"There is no possible way I can properly express what working in athletic training at UNH for this long has meant to me personally and professionally without forgetting to thank important people who have made such a difference in my life," Dana said. "So I won't even try. I'll just say thank you to all the student-athletes, co-workers, coaches and, most of all, my supportive family for allowing me the privilege to ride this ride as long as I have."
In 2020, Dana was named the Division I Head Athletic Trainer of the Year by the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) and the Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine (ICSM).
In 2014, Dana received NATA's Athletic Trainer Service Award for his contributions to the athletic training profession as a volunteer at the local and state levels. He garnered the 2014 Dr. Donald Grover Memorial Award from the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) for achieving outstanding success and making a significant contribution in the interest of intercollegiate athletics.
Dana has served as Drug Testing Site Coordinator and Head Athletic Trainer at various NCAA championship events, including men's and women's ice hockey and skiing.
Since 1980, Dana has worked as an athletic trainer at the Boston Marathon, serving as the team captain of the Finish Line Medical Area since 1996. Dana's international experience includes: representing the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and in four World Cups (Prague, Slovenia, Augsburg and Germany) as a member of the U.S. Canoe/Kayak team; working at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens; serving as a member of the U.S. Men's Team Handball squad at the Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic; and working with the U.S. Track and Field Team at the Paralympics World Championships in Lille, France. Additionally, he has worked at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Sacramento, Calif., and the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Dana is certified by the National Athletic Trainer's Association and is a licensed athletic trainer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In addition, Dana has a CPR Re-Certification and a Massachusetts Teacher Certification in physical education, health, and science.
The 1979 Northeastern University graduate began his athletic training career at Brookline and Newton South High Schools in Massachusetts, and then was the head athletic trainer at Fitchburg State College from 1980-84.
About UNH Athletics
UNH Athletics is committed to providing an outstanding student-athlete experience and fostering NCAA Division I teams that are a source of pride for the University community, the State of New Hampshire, and UNH alumni across the globe. UNH Athletics creates and sustains a culture committed to integrity, inclusion, respect, civic engagement, leadership, and academic achievement. These values are embedded in the pursuit of athletic excellence and contribute to an extraordinary student-athlete experience.
UNH Athletics is committed to supporting every team and student-athlete with the goal of competing for conference and national championships, and with an uncompromising resolve to achieve athletic, academic, and personal excellence.
UNH Women's Soccer vs Southern Maine Highlights 9 21 25
Sunday, September 21
UNH Men's Soccer vs Dartmouth Highlights 9 20 205
Sunday, September 21
UNH Women's Hockey vs Maine Exhibition Highlights 9 20 2025
Sunday, September 21
UNH Volleyball vs Merrimack Highlights 9-16-25
Wednesday, September 17