2022 NJCAA Athletic Trainer of the Year
NJCAA Athletic Trainer of the Year
The NJCAA Athletic Trainer of the Year is awarded to an athletic trainer who best exemplifies the overall purpose of leading their institution, athletic department, and student-athletes through athletic training.
Created in the spring of 2020, the NJCAA Athletic Trainer of the Year is part of the NJCAA Annual Awards that honor three distinct categories across the association - Athletic Director of the Year, Sports Information Director of the Year, and Athletic Trainer of the Year. These awards represent individuals who strive to create the optimal student-athlete experience on their campus while also performing duties that go far beyond the institutional level. To view past winners, visit: NJCAA Annual Award Past Winners
Amber Nichols - Genesee Community College (NY)
Amber Nichols manages all of Genesee's 11 sports and also oversees two training rooms on average each year. Managing the teams includes but is not limited to taping, responding to and prescribing injuries, rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, nutrition, and being a sounding board for all student-athletes whether it relates to athletics or not. Nichols also supervises the fitness center, training, scheduling for all workers/shifts, as well as overseeing two part-time athletic trainers.
Nichols was the head athletic trainer when the Cougars hosted the 2019 NJCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship, the 2021 NJCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship, and will be the head athletic trainer when Genesee hosts the 2022 NJCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship. During the season, Nichols travels with various teams to postseason competitions. Over the past two years, Nichols' workload has increased as she has also led COVID-19 protocol implementation and rapid testing on campus. These new duties include the reintegration of student-athletes on campus, numerous return to play protocols, rapid testing prior to games for all student-athletes, and adhering to the ever changing facility and game day protocols.
Student-athletes know they can count on Nichols to address and advise any issues they run into, whether they be physical, athletically related, or not. She is supportive of student-athletes, staff, and the college as a whole, always facing a challenge when asked. Amber was and continues to be the front-line person handling COVID-19 testing of staff as well. Nichols fields endless questions from student-athletes, parents, and staff, always finding an answer.
Nichols is involved in search leadership of an overseeing physician and is constantly assisting student-athletes with the navigation of insurance. She also oversees and manages the college's dragonfly account that houses all the student-athletes' physical and insurance paperwork.
Each year, Nichols is responsible for updating Genesee's athletic manual to reflect the most up-to-date athletic training and emergency protocol information. Nichols is described as an integral part of the Cougar family and is involved in leadership roles outside of the athletic department, including: NJCAA Region 3 Athletic Trainers Committee and COVID-19 reintegration committee (Genesee Community College and NJCAA Region 3), NATA member, NATA Clinical Symposia and AT Expo attendee. Nichols goes above and beyond to pour into student-athletes as well as the surrounding community.
For all 2022 NJCAA Honors and Annual Award Winners, visit: 2022 NJCAA Award Winners
For all NJCAA Honors, please visit: NJCAA Honors Home