PROVO -- Tom Holmoe, Director of Athletics at Brigham Young University, has announced the appointment of Gaye Merrill as Director of Sports Medicine for the Athletics Department. Merrill replaces George Curtis, who retired earlier this year after more than 20 years at BYU.
Merrill has been an athletic trainer at BYU since 1981. She received her bachelor's degree from BYU in 1978 and later earned a master's degree in athletic training from Indiana University. She got her first job as an assistant athletic trainer at Pittsburgh State University (Kansas) in 1979, where she spent two seasons before returning to work at BYU.
In her new assignment as Director of Sports Medicine, Merrill will oversee seven full-time athletic trainers, seven graduate assistants and numerous student trainers. She will be responsible for the medical care of 10 men's sports and 11 women's sports, which includes managing the budget, overseeing supplies, and coordinating physicians' scheduling and physical therapy.
"I am very excited for the opportunity to lead our Sports Medicine Department," said Merrill. "We have a great staff, and I believe we provide excellent medical care. We are always looking for ways to improve, and our focus will continue to be on finding ways to be even better."
Merrill succeeds one of the nation's premier trainers in Curtis, who served as president of several organizations dedicated to the sports medicine profession during his 20-year tenure, and has received numerous honors for his work.
"George (Curtis) was a great mentor to all of us," said Merrill. "He was a superb representative of the university who built a solid foundation for our program. I look forward to building on the great foundation he established."
While at BYU, Merrill has been involved in both clinical work and teaching. She has recently been the head trainer for gymnastics and volleyball as well as assisting with football. Merrill served as the undergraduate athletic training curriculum director from 1995-2000 and was involved with the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, serving on the Salt Lake Organizing Committee as the athletes' medical care coordinator.
"We are excited to announce Gaye as the Director of Sports Medicine at BYU," said Holmoe. "We feel she has excellent qualifications for this position and understands the new vision for our Athletic Department. She has tremendous experience and enjoys great rapport with our student-athletes. Gaye is highly regarded in the athletic training and sports medicine world. She came highly recommended by her colleagues and peers."
Merrill, a native of Blackfoot, Idaho, currently resides in Orem. She has traveled all over the world serving as the athletic trainer for many organizations including the U.S. National Swimming Team. She enjoys participating in outdoor sports, riding horses and reading.