Columbia University Campbell Family Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Peter Pilling announced that Douglas Straley had been named Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine and Head Athletic Trainer ahead of the 2021-2022 academic year. At Columbia, Straley is responsible for overseeing the prevention, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of the athletics injuries for 31 varsity sports programs. Additionally, Straley serves on the New York State Office of Professions Licensing Board for Athletic Trainers.
“We are excited about the addition of Douglas Straley to our athletics program,” Pilling said. “Straley brings an abundance of collegiate athletic training experience to our department. He will play an integral role in the continued success of our student-athletes.”
Straley comes to Morningside Heights after serving 19 years at Manhattan College as the Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine and Athletic Performance. Straley supervised the athletic training and strength and conditioning of the 300+ student-athletes who competed for Manhattan’s 19 Division I athletic teams. He was also the College's Athletics Health Care Administrator.
While at Manhattan College, Straley was the 2017 recipient of the Draddy Award, which honors an administrator, alumnus or supporter who has positively influenced the Athletic Department. Straley was promoted to Associate Athletic Director in June 2016 after previously serving as the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine since August 2009. He arrived in Riverdale for the 2003-04 school year, starting as the Director of Sports Medicine.
Prior to his arrival in Riverdale, Straley served as the director of sports medicine at Manhattanville College in nearby Purchase, N.Y. At Manhattanville, he coordinated the rehabilitation, prevention, and management of athletic injuries for over 250 intercollegiate NCAA Division III student-athletes. Straley also served as the Head Athletic Trainer for Manhattanville’s nationally ranked men's and women's ice hockey programs. The women's ice hockey team appeared at the Frozen Four in 2002-03.
Before his tenure at Manhattanville, Straley worked for three years as the assistant director of sports medicine at Assumption College where he assisted with the medical care of the athletic program’s 19 Division II varsity sport teams.
Straley, a 1998 graduate of Northeastern University, worked as a student athletic trainer during his undergraduate years. In 1999, he received a master of science degree in athletic training from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Additionally, Straley served as the head athletic trainer for the Westchester Wildfire, a United States Basketball League (USBL) team coached by former New York Knick John Starks. Straley had been published on numerous occasions, and has made several presentations based upon his research in the field of Athletic Training.
Straley holds Athletic Training licenses in New York and Massachusetts, and is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He is certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, as an Athletic Trainer, and in CPR and First Aid. Straley is also trained in Blood Flow Restriction Therapy, Cupping Therapy, Class IV Laser Therapy, and Soft Tissue Release. In addition, he holds a certification in Functional Movement Screens and is trained in the Graston Technique. A decorated Eagle Scout, Straley won the Koko Kassabian Award while at Northeastern for outstanding achievement in leadership, scholarship, and professional development. Straley is also Mental Health First Aid Certified by the National Council for Behavioral Health.
A native of Newton, Mass., Straley currently resides in Yorktown, New York, with his wife Jennifer, daughter Annabelle, and sons George and Charles.
