Howard Payne University announced the creation of an athletic training education program starting at the university this summer. Mike Terrill, currently head athletic trainer, will be the director. The program will be offered through HPU’s School of Education.

HPU started plans last year to pursue national accreditation in athletic training education from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). The Howard Payne University Board of Trustees approved adding the new program at their meeting on October 8, 2010. Terrill has been a key person in the process.

“We at Howard Payne are very excited about the advantage the new major in athletic training will give to our students,” said Dr. W. Mark Tew, Howard Payne University provost. “Expanding the program will enable our students to take the examination to be board certified without additional coursework at another institution.”

This is one of the first steps in the process of national accreditation and, once accredited, the program will allow HPU students to sit for the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Board of Certification exam. The current HPU athletic training program has been a state license program since the State of Texas licensing process began in the early 1970’s.

“I am very excited about this opportunity to lead our athletic training education program toward national certification,” said Mike Terrill. “Howard Payne has had an outstanding athletic training education program that has produced many professional athletic trainers working in all aspects of the field, as well as many who have gone on to graduate school, or to be physicians and other medical professionals. Obtaining national accreditation will allow our students to work beyond the borders of Texas and, for that matter, beyond the borders of the United States.”

Mike Terrill just finished his tenth year as head athletic trainer at HPU. Prior to coming to HPU, he had been a consultant athletic trainer for Community Sports Medicine in San Angelo, the athletic trainer for the San Angelo Outlaws WHPL Hockey team, an athletic trainer at Angelo State University and a graduate assistant athletic trainer at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Terrill is a nationally certified and Texas State Licensed Athletic Trainer with more than 15 years of professional experience. He earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Angelo State University and is currently working on his doctorate in health education from AT Still University.

Terrill and his wife, son and daughter are actively involved in Coggin Avenue Baptist Church in Brownwood, Texas. Terrill is the Cubmaster for Brownwood Pack 14 and is involved other civic organizations.