July 3, 2007
Columbia, S.C. – John Kasik was named Director of Sports Medicine for the University of South Carolina, it was announced today. Kasik has 28 years of athletic training experience and comes to Columbia from Stanford, where he served as the Head Athletic Trainer during the 2006-07 school year. A native of Baltimore, Md., Kasik has ties to the region as he was the Head Athletic Trainer for the Carolina Panthers from 1994 through 2002.
“This is a great opportunity with what Eric Hyman is doing with the sports medicine program within the athletic department and in the sports medicine curriculum at South Carolina,” Kasik said. “South Carolina will have one of the best sports medicine programs in the country and it is an honor to be part of it. South Carolina is a great place to live. The people are great and I am very excited and thankful for the opportunity.”
As Director of Sports Medicine, Kasik will assist in the overall management and coordination of South Carolina’s Athletic Training/Sports Medicine program. He will help coordinate all phases of health care for Gamecock student-athletes.
“We couldn’t be happier to have someone with the kind of experience that John has joining our staff,” Athletics Director Eric Hyman said. “We have been working very closely with the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and with Dr. Jeff Guy to take our program and serve all South Carolina sports medicine programs, and John will be a key part of us achieving that vision. With his experience as the Head Athletic Trainer at Stanford and as the Head Athletic Trainer with the Carolina Panthers, we are ecstatic to have John with us. His strengths fit in with what we are trying to accomplish.”
During his time at Stanford, Kasik managed the athletic training department with a staff of up to 10 full time athletic trainers and eight part-time graduate assistants. He coordinated health physicals, treatment, training, injury reports and rehabilitation of Cardinal athletes and staff. He determined the budget for supplies and oversaw ordering for department facilities.
Before taking the job at Stanford, he was the athletic trainer and set medic for the NBC television series “The Biggest Loser 3” in 2006. His primary function on the set was the day-to-day healthcare and treatment of the cast and the crew that worked on location during the filming of the show.
“We’re excited to have John here at an important time for the sports medicine program at South Carolina. His experience in both the collegiate and professional arenas will contribute in the new sports medicine offices and training rooms,” said Dr. Jeff Guy, Medical Director at Carolina. “He will help promote further collaboration between university entities such as the medical school, the athletic training program, exercise science and physical therapy. This is a great hire for USC.”
Kasik’s résumé includes stops with three NFL teams, highlighted by an eight-year tenure as Head Athletic Trainer for the Carolina Panthers, where he managed a staff that included two full-time athletic trainers, six part-time athletic trainers and assistants. He coordinated health physicals, treatment, training and rehabilitation and developed a computerized team injury reporting and tracking system in addition to designing health history, medication recording and coach’s injury report forms.
He began his healthcare career in 1979 as an assistant athletic trainer for the Baltimore Colts. He stepped out of the NFL for a year to serve as a graduate assistant athletic trainer and earn his master’s degree from the University of Miami during the 1980-81 school year before returning to the Colts for two more seasons. His time with the Colts was followed by 11 years as the assistant athletic trainer for the Seattle Seahawks from 1983 through 1994, where the Seahawks made the playoffs four times, making it to the AFC championship game in 1984. During his 22 years in the NFL, Kasik served as an athletic trainer for two Pro Bowl games. During his time with the Seahawks, Kasik was a member of the NFL Training Staff of the Year in 1988.
A 1980 graduate of West Virginia with a degree in secondary education, social studies, Kasik earned a master’s in physical education, athletic training from the University of Miami in 1981. He is married to the former Sally Grace. The couple has a son, John, Jr., and two daughters, Kathleen and Caroline.
