North Carolina Wesleyan Athletics

Definition of an Athletic Trainer

An athletic trainer is a person who meets the qualifications set by a state regulatory board and/or the Board of Certification, Inc. He/She practices
athletic training under the direction of a physician. His/Her duties include: providing physical medicine and rehabilitation services;
preventing, assessing, and treating injuries (acute and chronic);
coordinating care with physicians and other allied health providers.

CAROL CARSON STEPHANIE LÓPEZ JOSH LONG CHRISTY DENNEY

Head Athletic Trainer / Senior Woman Administrator

Name: Carol Carson
Office Phone: 252.985.5221
Training Room Phone: 252.985.5415
E-mail: ccarson@ncwc.edu

Carol Carson begins her 23rd year as the Head Athletic Trainer at North Carolina Wesleyan. Carson graduated from East Carolina University in 1983 with a B.S. in School and Community Health with an emphasis in Sports Medicine. She went on to earn her Master's in Health and Physical Education the following year. During that time, Carson also became a Certified Athletic Trainer.

In addition to her duties as head athletic trainer, Carson also serves as North Carolina Wesleyan's Senior Woman Administrator. She is a 2006 Athletics Hall of Fame inductee.

ASSISTANT ATHLETIC TRAINER

Name: Stephanie López
Office Phone: 252.985.5208
Training Room Phone: 252.985.5415
E-mail: slopez@ncwc.edu

Stephanie López enters her second year with the North Carolina Wesleyan Athletic Training staff. She joins the Bishops after serving as a graduate assistant at Indiana State University, where she received her Master's degree in Athletic Training in December of 2008.

A 2007 graduate of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, López has experience working with NCAA Championships and NFL combines, among others.

ASSISTANT ATHLETIC TRAINER

Name: Josh Long
Office Phone: 252.985.5347
Training Room Phone: 252.985.5415
E-mail: jlong@ncwc.edu

Josh Long joins the Battling Bishops for his first season after earning his Master's degree in Athletic Training from Ohio University this past May. A four-year letterwinner in men's soccer, Long is a 2006 graduate of Mercyhurst College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Medicine. While at MC, he gained valuable athletic training experience in the sports of football, basketball, and wrestling before beginning a one-year stint as a personal trainer at the Chautauqua Institute in New York.

Prior to beginning his master's program at Ohio, Long earned additional experience as an athletic trainer at Northwestern High School (through St. Vincent Health Systems) and Notre Dame Cathedral Latin High School (through Precision Orthopaedics Specialties). In 2008, Long joined the Southern Ohio Copperheads baseball organization as head athletic trainer and began seeking his master's at Ohio.

During his tenure with the Division I Bobcats, he also served as head trainer at Alexander High School. In addition to his athletic training certification, Long is certified by the American Heart Association in CPR/Healthcare provision, by the Red Cross in First Aid, and is also an an accredited clinical instructor.

He and his wife, Melissa, reside in nearby Wilson.

ASSISTANT ATHLETIC TRAINER

Name: Christy Denney
Office Phone: 252.985.5304
Training Room Phone: 252.985.5415
E-mail: cdenney@ncwc.edu

Christy Denney enters her first season with the NCWC athletic training staff after completing her Master's degree at Ohio University in May of 2009. A 2008 graduate of Greensboro College, she is no stranger to North Carolina or the USA South, having served as head captain of the Pride women's lacrosse team in 2007. She was also a member of GC's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

As a member of the Athletic Training program, she gained valuable experience working with football, men's and women's soccer, and men's and women's basketball. Her undergraduate career was highlighted by several internships, including those at Greensboro Orthopaedics, Murphy Wainer Orthopaedics, and Western Guilford High School.

After joining the Bobcats, Denney worked primarily with the Ohio's volleyball team following a full-semester rotation at Southeastern Orthopaedics Specialists in Green Valley. She is a certified in athletic training, CPR/First Aid, and clinical instruction.

Return to Athletic Training Main