TCNJ’S HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER JOE CAMILLONE TO RETIRE FROM TCNJ AFTER 35 YEARS OF SERVICE

Media Release

Ewing, NJ…After 35 years of service as the Head Athletic Trainer at The College of New Jersey, Joe Camillone, right, (Ewing, NJ) will be retiring on June 1, 2008.

Over the course of his tremendous career, Camillone dedicated himself to the safety and betterment of student-athletes at the College. He brought both distinction and acclaim to TCNJ’s athletic department and was recognized for his outstanding skills.

In 2007, he was awarded the 2007 Presidential Award at the 2007 Eastern Athletic Trainers Association Convention in Boston, Massachusetts.

Camillone became only the second person honored with the Presidential Award, which is given to a person who shows unselfish and dedicated efforts which has advanced the EATA and the athletic training profession. Established in January 2006, the first recipient of the award was Bob O’Malley, former athletic trainer and assistant athletic director at Philadelphia University.

The Eastern Athletic Trainers\’ Association was first formed in January 1949 when a few athletic trainers in the northeast decided to gather and share information. Today, the EATA encompasses all members of the National Athletic Trainers\’ Association, who reside in either District I or District II.

The EATA holds an annual meeting and provides scholarships and research opportunities for students and certified athletic trainers who are members.
Camillone has worked at TCNJ for more than three decades with diligence, care and expertise to bring the best possible health care to literally thousands of student-athletes.

Additionally, he has played a significant role in promoting the field of athletic training and has been mentor to countless assistant trainers, graduate assistants and student trainers who have gone on from TCNJ to a career in athletic training.

In the fall of 2003, Camillone was also honored by his alma mater, the University of Findlay (Findlay, Ohio) with the school’s Distinguished Alumni Citation. He was also honored in 2007 with the All-America Football Foundation Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award.

Certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), he is also licensed by the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners. The Ewing Township resident came to TCNJ in August, 1973 after serving as a teacher and athletic trainer at Cedar Ridge High School in Old Bridge, NJ. He holds a bachelor\’s degree in health and physical education from Findlay College (Ohio) and a masters degree in physical education from Eastern Michigan University.

Camillone served as the first president of the Eastern Athletic Trainers Association from 1991-1993. He is also a member of the Governor\’s Athletic Training Advisory Committee. In 1995, he was honored by the NATA with the Distinguished Service Award for his dedication to athletic training.

Active with in the EATA, Camillone currently serves as the Chair of the Honors and Awards Committee.

At TCNJ, he is responsible for the development and maintenance of the health care program for student-athletes. In particular, he supervises the treatment of injuries and administers rehabilitative exercise. He also teaches Prevention of Athletic Injury and a Health Issues seminar at TCNJ.

Both he and his wife make athletic training a profession. Wife Lisa has served as the head trainer at nearby Mercer County Community College in West Windsor, NJ, for the past 24 years. They are the proud parents of a daughter, Andrea, age 14.

A golf outing and dinner for Camillone is planned for Friday, July 18 at Mercer Oaks Country Club. For more information, please contact TCNJ’s athletic department at 609-771-2230.

 

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