Southern hires head athletic trainer
Southern University hired Ashante Simms as its head athletic trainer.
“We are excited to welcome Ms. Simms aboard,” Athletic Director William Broussard said. “She has seen both big-time (LSU) and small college athletics (Dillard) experience, and her time running and establishing a sports medicine unit in addition to serving as a certified athletic trainer uniquely qualifies her.”
Simms, a New Orleans native and LSU graduate, joins the staff after spending five years as the head athletics trainer at Dillard.
“I think the (sports medicine) program at Southern University could use an upgrade in infrastructure,” Simms said. “We already have two great athletic trainers in place, what we really need is someone to manage the program.”
Simms will oversee the care of more than 300 student-athletes and arrange appointments with team physicians and any necessary surgical needs.
“My most important goal is to make sure that (the student-athletes) have healthy lives beyond their sport,” Simms said. “My concern is not just for them within this four-year time period. It’s to make sure they can play with their families and have healthy lives beyond their college careers.”
At Dillard, Simms oversaw the medical and physical therapy needs of three men’s and four women’s athletic programs and was instrumental in rebuilding the Bleu Devils’ Sports medicine program.
Simms received a bachelor’s of science degree in kinesiology with a concentration in athletic training from LSU in May 2007. She began work with Oschner Clinic of New Orleans in June 2007, where she was assigned to serve as the head athletic trainer at Dillard.
Social media campaign
Southern University athletics is launching its #StandUnited social media campaign for the 2012 season. #StandUnited encourages fans to share news about Southern athletics through Twitter and Facebook.
As a part of the #StandUnited social media contest, fans are required to “Like” the Southern Facebook page and “Follow” @SouthernUsports on Twitter by Aug. 1 to enter for a chance to win a $100 prize pack courtesy of GoJagsGear.com. One grand prize winner will receive two season books for the 2012 football season.
Southern will randomly select five social media fans to determine the winner of the $100 GoJagsGear.com prize pack and grand prize winner. Fans are encouraged to share messages through Facebook and “retweet” or repost Southern news on Twitter using #StandUnited.