Nikki Huffman
NationalityAmerican
Alma materAverett University
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
OccupationBaseball athletic trainer
OrganizationToronto Blue Jays

Nikki Huffman is the former head athletic trainer for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018 and 2019, and currently serves as a personal trainer for Marcus Stroman. She is only the second woman to be a head trainer in North America's top four sports leagues, after Sue Falsone.[1]

Early life and education

Huffman grew up in Connelly Springs, North Carolina.[2] She watched Duke and Carolina basketball, college football, and NFL games with her dad on TV, which sparked an early interest in a career in sports.[2] While attending East Burke High School, she decided she wanted to be an athletic trainer.[2] She graduated in 2005.[3]

She played basketball and lacrosse during her years at Averett University.[2] She received her doctorate degree in physical therapy, with a focus on manual therapy, from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.[1]

Career

After receiving her doctorate in physical therapy, Huffman was doing a residency and fellowship at Duke University's Michael K. Krzyewski Human Performance Laboratory.[1] In 2015, while at Duke, she helped Blue Jays' pitcher Marcus Stroman recover from a torn ACL, an injury that was supposed to end his season.[4] Stroman credits Huffman with enabling him to return for the end of the season and the postseason.[4][5] She worked with Stroman and teammate Aaron Sanchez in the 2015–16 offseason to prepare, which led her to connect with Blue Jays' training staff.[6] In 2016, she joined the Blue Jays' staff as physical therapist and rehab coordinator.[6][4]

In 2018, she took over as head athletic trainer, becoming the only woman currently a trainer, and only the second ever.[2]

In 2020, she left the Blue Jays to become Stroman's personal trainer.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Jays' Nikki Huffman becomes 2nd female head athletic trainer in major leagues". Canadian Press. December 22, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Nikki Huffman's path to the top of the Blue Jays training staff - Sportsnet.ca". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2019-08-16.
  3. ↑ Baker, Jason (January 7, 2018). "EBHS grad Huffman named Blue Jays head athletic trainer". The News Herald. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 "Blue Jays promote Huffman to head trainer". MLB.com. Retrieved 2019-08-16.
  5. ↑ McGrath, Kaitlyn. "If that was his last act with the Blue Jays, Marcus Stroman..." The Athletic. Retrieved 2019-08-16.
  6. 1 2 Lott, John. "Blue Jays physical therapist Nikki Huffman uses smiles,..." The Athletic. Retrieved 2019-08-16.
  7. ↑ "'I think I should be dominant': Stro rarin' to go". MLB.com. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
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