Dr. Derick Bothwell Joins Huntingdon MAT Faculty

Montgomery, Ala.—Dr. Derick Bothwell, Huntingdon College Class of 2015, will return to his alma mater as a member of the faculty in the College’s new Master of Athletic Training program, Huntingdon College President J. Cameron West announced today. He will begin work immediately as an athletic trainer and continue as an assistant professor of athletic training beginning June 1.

Dr. Bothwell serves as a staff physical therapist and athletic trainer for Rehab Associates in Montgomery, where he has worked in various roles since 2016. He has also served as an assistant athletic trainer for Huntingdon athletic programs. After graduating in 2015 he earned athletic training licensure in 2016 and completed his doctorate in physical therapy at Alabama State University in 2020. He served as a member of the advisory board that developed Huntingdon’s Master of Athletic Training program, which will enroll its first cohort this summer.

“Dr. Derick Bothwell brings real-world athletic training and physical therapy practice to the teaching faculty in our MAT program,” said President West. “He was a powerhouse football player for the Huntingdon Hawks and understands the student-athlete drive and mindset, but has also worked as an athletic trainer and trained other athletic trainers. His combination of knowledge and experience will be invaluable to him as a professor in the program, and equally valuable to the students who learn from him.”

“It is important for us to provide for our athletic training students the real knowledge gained from experience in the athletic training field,” said Dr. Jennifer Ballard, who directs the MAT program. “This is Huntingdon’s first graduate-level program in its 167-year history.”

“I’m excited to be back at a place that I call home,” said Dr. Bothwell. “I look forward to the opportunity to teach in a program that I went through at the undergraduate level. I think the MAT program is an awesome step for the College as its first graduate program and will lay the foundation for other programs to come.”

Huntingdon College continues a legacy of faith, wisdom, and service through a liberal arts academic tradition grounded in the Judeo-Christian heritage of the United Methodist Church.

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