Submitted by: Lori Moss
ABOUT ROBBIE
How and why did Robbie Williams choose to become an Athletic Trainer? Simple answer, because he enjoys working with athletes. One of his greatest joys is to see an athlete that has been out, due to injury, return to the sport they love. “You know how much time, effort, blood, sweat and tears they put forth to be able to make the return”. Robbie has been observing this “return” for a total of 32 years, providing healthcare service with the Center for Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics since 1994; Girls Preparatory School from 1996-2020 as well as a dual partnership with the Chattanooga Football Club from 2010-present.
EDUCATION
University of Tennessee- Chattanooga, 1988
Bachelors in HPER Recreation Specialist
University of Southern Mississippi, 1988-1990
Graduate School
Honors and Awards:
2021 SEATA-Clinical/Industrial/Corporate Athletic Training Award
2020 TATS Sandy Sandlin High School Athletic Training of the Year
2020 UTC Graduate Athletic Training Preceptor of the Year
2011 TATS President’s Award of Merit 2011
2004 TATS Joe Worden Clinical/Professional Athletic Trainer of the Year
1997 TATS Backbone Award
MENTORS
How did you know or decide to become an Athletic Trainer?
“Well, actually an injury happened when I was playing 9th grade basketball which ended my athletic career, however it improved my manager skill. Coach Henry and Coach Liner, from Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe HS, introduced me to Cramer self-study course which began a new career of Sports Medicine. I attended a Student Athletic Trainer Workshops at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga which led to a scholarship at UTC to work under the mentorship of Terry Lewis then another well known ATC, Doug May.
Doug was the Head Athletic Trainer and Ron Courson the Graduate Assistant, under the mentorship and leadership of those two men, who had an extreme passion for Athletic Training, I knew I too wanted to be an Athletic Trainer.”
Favorite Aspect of Athletic Training?
“The relationships you build with other athletic trainers, physicians, coaches, athletes and their families. During my illness, students from 30 plus years ago reached out with their support and love, so it’s the relationships that you will cherish and remember.”
Memorable Moments
“So many; State Championships while at GPS, NPLS National Championship Games with CFC, trips to San Diego and New York with CFC, and working the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.”
Fun Fact
“I followed Eddie Davis’s AT career; manager and High School graduate of LFO, graduate and student worker at UTC, and then working at a private school in Chattanooga Tennessee, Eddie at Baylor and myself at GPS. You never know when your little league basketball coach is leading the way for your next step, yes Eddie, you were my coach too!”
Words of Wisdom
“Relax and slow down, take a deep breath and do not stress over the small stuff”
““I’m not sure I can succinctly summarize Robbie’s importance to me or the Center for Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics.
Many know of Robbie’s medical difficulties this past year, and I’ll never forget being told of his hospitalization and respiratory distress. It was early in the pandemic and none of us knew the gravity or depth of the situation that we were all facing, but early data showed very high mortality rates for hospitalized and intubated patients. Robbie tested negative for COVID multiple times, but when I heard he was being intubated I wept, fearful of his future. It wasn’t long after that Robbie was texting me, worried about who was going to cover the soccer team.
Robbie and I have spent hundreds of hours together on the sidelines covering various events, particularly soccer, which is my passion as an ex-collegiate soccer player. Not having him on the sidelines last season because of his health and the pandemic was difficult and sad. But I didn’t miss having him on the sidelines for his medical expertise or his acumen for sports injuries, but instead I missed our conversations about life. We commiserate about work-life balance, shared stories about our kids and our love of being a dad, we made wagers on crowd size and weather patterns, and we laughed about life lessons. Robbie always holds me accountable to a higher standard reminding me that I’m a husband and father before I’m a doctor. Robbie’s passion is caring for athletes, but he never lets that interfere with his calling as a husband to Angie and a dad to Jennie and Sydney.
He is beloved by his teams wherever he goes because he truly cares for their well-being and success. He is respected by the coaches and staff as he communicates openly and accurately. He is trusted by his medical colleagues because he always does what is right. He constantly has a trail of students behind him that he relishes in teaching. And he loves what he does.
Robbie is vital to our group, the heart of our sports medicine team, and the core that stabilizes us. I can think of no one more deserving to be honored this year than Robbie. He has persevered beyond the norm to continue his exceptional care of professional athletes representing the Center for Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics with honor and class. I’m proud to work with him and thankful to call him my friend”
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““During my time as the Head Athletic Trainer at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, Robbie was a student intern, and a valuable one. Robbie was dependable, reliable, and organized, so much so I tagged him as the “to do list”. All the things I could not remember, he would always remind me which was very important in keeping the program running.””
““I have known Robbie for over 30 years. I consider him a super talented Athletic Trainer but also a good friend. He has worked with athletes at GPS for most of those 30 years. He has gone the extra mile for our athletes on so many occasions. He has so much knowledge and compassion. He was always willing to stay late or show up early to rehab or treat our athletes.
Funny story, he was an Athletic Trainer at UTC when I played basketball. I had three knee surgeries while at UTC and he was there for all of it. I rehabbed throughout the fall and am close to being able to play at Christmas time. Because I was from Ringgold, he saw no reason to slow my rehab over Christmas break or even Christmas DAY! Yes, that guy had me working out at UTC on Christmas afternoon!”
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