Joan Couch, 51, begins her 27th year on the University of Delaware athletic training staff in 2009-10. After six years as an assistant, Couch was promoted to Associate Head Trainer in 1988.
Couch joined the UD sports medicine staff in 1982 after serving as a volunteer athletic trainer and substitute health and physical education teacher at Cape Henlopen High School. She graduated from the University of Delaware in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in physical education with an emphasis in athletic training.
She was certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association in August, 1979 and went on to receive her master’s degree in sports medicine from the United States Sports Academy.
In addition to her experience at Cape Henlopen, Couch served as a high school advisor to all high school trainers in the area surrounding the U.S. Sports Academy, where she also was a physical therapy aide. Prior to that she was athletic trainer and the head softball coach at nearby Cecil Community College in Elkton, Md.
While a student at Delaware, Couch (then Joan Molaison) was an outstanding athlete in field hockey and softball for the Blue Hens.
She holds professional memberships in the National Athletic Trainers Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She will be honored in June, 2007 by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) with a NATA Athletic Trainer Award for contributions to the athletic training profession and to the association.
She previously served as a member of the Delaware State Examining Board of Physical Therapists, president of the Delaware Athletic Trainers Association, and secretary-treasurer of DATA.
Recently Couch has been involved with the DATA legislative impact committee to improve the functioning of athletic trainers in the work place. This directly corresponds with the increased accreditation standards of athletic training educational programs.
She is beginning her 11th year as a Girl Scout leader and has been active running the Newark Girl’s Youth Lacrosse Club since 2000.
Couch and her husband Bill reside in Newark with their daughters, Erin, 17, and Megan, 15.
Associate Head Athletic Trainer Joan Couch