PHILADELPHIA - Georgian Court University Director of Sports Medicine and Performance, Joe Friedrich, added a well-deserved accolade to his resume last month as he was named NCAA Division II Head Athletic Trainer of the Year, presented by the National Athletic Trainers' Association Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine.

Friedrich, who just completed his 15th season with the Lions, is the NCAA  Athletics Health Care Administrator and oversees the athletic training and sport performance staff on the GCU campus. Joe holds a Master of Arts degree in Integrative Health from Georgian Court ('21) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology (specializing in athletic training) from Pennsylvania State University ('05).

The sports medicine veteran was an adjunct faculty member (2011-2019) with Georgian Court's Exercise Science department, teaching courses in Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries, as well as CPR/AED/First Aid.  Joe routinely serves as an internship supervisor for GCU students and is a clinical preceptor for entry-level athletic training master's students at both Seton Hall University and Jefferson University.

Joe is actively involved with the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Athletic Trainers' Council, having served two terms as chair of the group from 2016 - 2020.  He is an Athletic Trainers' Society of New Jersey (ATSNJ) member where he sits on the technology and conference committees. Friedrich was also the 2022 recipient of the ATSNJ Phillip Hossler Loyalty and Commitment Award.

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