History of Athletic Training at Carthage

Jon Swift, Carthage College's first athletic trainer, began providing athletic training services to Carthage athletes in 1979. The athletic training internship program started a few years later when several students became interested in the athletic training field. Mr. Swift added classes in 1982 and Carthage’s Athletic Training Education Program was set in motion.

In 1993, Mr. Swift retired from athletic training. The new athletic training room was officially named The Jon Swift Sports Medicine Center in 1998 in his honor and years of service at Carthage.

Carthage Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) received confirmation of initial accreditation from the Committee on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) in October of 2003. This accreditation allowed athletic training to be recognized as a major at Carthage. Only students who have successfully graduated from an institution accredited by CAATE are eligible to sit for the Board of Certification (BOC) exam.

Since the program’s inception, graduates have had an 55-60 percent success rate in passing the BOC examination. Graduates from Carthage College have continued to work in the field of athletic training, a related field, or have pursued study in graduate school.

The future is very promising at Carthage. With the addition of the N.E. Tarble Athletic and Recreation Center and state-of-the-art Hedberg Library in 2001, Carthage strengthened its foundation to teach the students of tomorrow. The College's commitment to teaching and mentoring students has always been a priority; the addition of the new facilities has only strengthened that commitment.

A new rehabilitation center in the Tarble Arena opened in 2009. This facility further enhances student learning opportunities and athletic performance development.

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Jon Swift Sports Medicine Center

Certified athletic trainers and athletic training students are on staff daily to provide the best of care possible for Carthage's student-athletes. Read more.

Student Voices

Carthage athletic training major Brett Taylor spent a summer working with the training staff of the Chicago Bears.

Hear what students have to say about studying athletic training at Carthage.