Athletic Training 12/22/2020 1:48:00 PM

Floyd Announces Athletic Training Personnel Changes

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Director of Athletic Training and Sports Medicine, Dr. R.T. Floyd, has announced personnel changes for the staff of the University of West Alabama Athletic Training and Sports Medicine Center.

Long-time head athletic trainer Brad Montgomery has retired after 31 years of serving UWA student-athletes and community members of the University, Sumter County and greater Black Belt Region. Montgomery retired as a member of both the UWA Athletics Hall of Fame and the Alabama Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame.

"We are sad to see Brad Montgomery retire from UWA," Floyd said. "He has made a tremendous impact for over three decades and has provided truly outstanding patient care to so many student-athletes and others in the UWA community.

"His impact on our on athletic training program and students is immeasurable," Floyd said. "We will definitely miss him, his wisdom and dedication, but certainly support and congratulate him in his new position at Samford University and wish him the very best."

Hudson Byrnes, who joined the West Alabama staff in the summer of 2019 as an athletic trainer and instructor, will assume the duties of head athletic trainer on Jan. 1. Byrnes has been the athletic trainer for Tiger baseball since coming to UWA and will also continue in that position. He owns a Bachelor of Science degree from Delta State University and a Master of Science from Mississippi College, where he also served on the athletic training staff as both a graduate assistant and full time member.

"Hudson has done an excellent job, served us very well in all of his areas of responsibility, demonstrated proactive leadership and is enthusiastically supported by our faculty," Floyd said. "We are appreciative of him taking on this important role."

Olivia Sabo is set to rejoin the Tiger athletic training staff on Jan. 1 as well as athletic trainer and instructor. She will cover Tiger football.

After earning her Master of Science in Physical Education from West Alabama in May 2019, Sabo accepted a position of athletic trainer and then interim head athletic trainer at Guilford College.

"We are excited to announce that Olivia Sabo will join us as athletic trainer/instructor. Olivia is a former UWA graduate assistant athletic trainer who provided athletic training services primarily with volleyball, softball and football," Floyd said. "She subsequently served as assistant athletic trainer and then interim head athletic trainer at Guilford College."

Sabo earned an Associate of Arts from Catawba Valley Community College in May 2013 and a Bachelor of Science in athletic training from UNCC in May 2016. She is a board-certified athletic trainer, licensed in the state of Alabama, and a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association, the Southeast Athletic Trainers' Association, and the Alabama Athletic Trainers' Association.
In a related move, graduate assistant Emily Galloway has accepted a full-time athletic trainer position at the University of Cincinnati. Graduate assistant AC Sasser will move into Galloway's primary clinical responsibility, which is women's basketball coverage.

"Emily has provided excellent patient care while serving as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with women's basketball and in serving as a preceptor for our athletic training students," Floyd said. "We are grateful for her contribution to UWA Athletic Training and the patients we serve and wish her the very best."

The R.T. Floyd Athletic Training & Sports Medicine Center is located in Homer Field House on the University of West Alabama campus.

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