Colorado College Athletics

Rich Bennett, a veteran of over 20 years in NCAA athletic training and private practice, joined the athletics department at Colorado College as associate athletic director for sport performance and wellness on Sept. 1, 2020.
 
As the director of sports performance and wellness, Bennett oversees sports medicine, sports performance, mental health and nutrition for CC athletics and serves as the the primary athletic trainer for the Tiger men's and women's basketball programs,. He is a CARE team member and on the conduct review team at the school.
 
Bennett came to Colorado Springs from the Reno Orthopedic Clinic, where he directed and managed the Return to Sport Program for athletic clients and assisted patients through daily rehabilitation since October of 2019.
 
Prior to that, Bennett spent 10 years as the head athletic trainer and four as assistant athletic director for sports medicine at the University of Portland, where he was responsible for all aspects of health care in the athletic environment. He worked primarily with the men’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, and men’s and women’s track and field teams, served as the UP Drug Testing Coordinator and sat on the Health and Safety Commission for the school.

From 2006-09, Bennett spent three years as the director of sports medicine at St. Bonaventure University, where he oversaw all athletic medical services. He also served as the interim head athletic trainer at the University at Albany for one season, where he oversaw the football, men’s basketball, and men’s lacrosse teams for the Great Danes. Bennett began his time at the University at Albany as an assistant athletic trainer for two years overseeing the men’s soccer, men’s basketball and men’s lacrosse teams.
 
Bennett earned a master of science degree in education with an emphasis in sports management and administration from Eastern Michigan University in 2003. During his time as a graduate student, he was a certified athletic trainer in the athletic department.
 
He graduated with a bachelor of science degree from Boston University’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences in 2000. During his undergraduate studies, he completed internships at Boston University, Harvard University, Bentley College and Milton Academy.

Bennett is originally from Syracuse, N.Y. He and his wife, Kieran, have two sons, Grayson and Tyson.