Ronnie L. Chastain is a highly experienced certified athletic trainer with over 20 years of service in the collegiate and high school sports arena. He has a strong track record of caring for athletes and mentoring future athletic trainers and healthcare professionals. Chastain was employed by Clarks Summit University since 2004, where he has held various roles including Certified Athletic Trainer, Adjunct Instructor, Athletic Healthcare Administrator, and Covid Administrator during the pandemic. In this capacity, he has been instrumental in creating and implementing student athletic healthcare programs, developing athletic training facilities, and establishing relationships with local medical professionals. Additionally, he has initiated a program for undergraduate students interested in athletic training and physical therapy, aiming to prepare them for graduate school.
Chastain has also served as a preceptor for Marywood University's Master's program, where he has been involved in teaching and mentoring students. Prior to his roles at Clarks Summit and Marywood, he was the Head Athletic Trainer and Instructor at Union College in Kentucky and an Athletic Trainer at North Laurel High School, also in Kentucky.
Chastain had this to say about joining the Patriot Family, “I’m excited and eager to join an athletic department that is fully bought into training and discipling student-athletes in all areas of life with the gospel at the center of it all.”
Director of Athletics, Gretchen LeVan, shared, “We have been praying for this position for the last two years. Ronnie comes to us with not only the knowledge but also the same heart to come alongside our student-athletes and point them in His direction. We cannot wait to introduce him to our student-athletes, I know they will be so excited!”
Chastain's educational background includes a Master of Arts in Health and Exercise Science from Furman University, where he was a graduate assistant for Division I athletic teams, and a BS in Athletic Training/Sports Medicine from Valdosta State University. He is certified by the NATA, licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and holds certifications in CPR and AED for the BLS Provider from the AHA.
