Head athletic trainer Keith Handling, 59, enters his 34th year with the Blue Hens' respected athletic training program in 2007-08.
A holder of a bachelor's degree from Delaware and a master's degree from West Chester University, Handling's interest in athletic training began as an undergraduate when he served under long-time predecessor Dr. C. Roy Rylander.
Following graduation, Handling served two years in the Navy. He completed a degree in physical therapy from Delaware in 1980.
Handling is a member of NATA, the Delaware Athletic Trainers Association (DATA), the American Physical Therapy Association, the Delaware Physical Therapy Association, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the College Athletic Trainers Society.
He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, Golden Key National Honor Society, and Delta Psi Kappa National Physical Education Honor Society. He is a former State Director of Delaware Special Olympics and has been a member of their Board of Directors since 1974.
In 1995 he received the prestigious Delaware Special Olympics Volunteer of the Year award. He is also past president of DATA. In December of 1997, he was inducted into the Delaware Special Olympics Hall of Fame.
In 1999, Handling was the recipient of the Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award for the State of Delaware. In 1992, he was honored as the Outstanding Faculty Member in the UD Department of Health and Exercise Sciences. Handling has served as head trainer for eight Delaware High School Blue-Gold All-Star games.
In August, 1985 he was chosen as trainer for the Delaware Collegiate All-Star basketball team which competed in Austria. During the spring of 1998, he was invited to Beijing University of Physical Education and Wuhan Institute of Physical Education in the People’s Republic of China to present a series of sports medicine lectures.
In 2004 Handling was inducted into the Delaware Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame.
Handling, an associate professor in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Science, served as the Director of the Athletic Training Education Program from 1988-2002.
Keith and his wife Linda reside in Landenberg, PA. They have two sons, Matt and Tom, who both are graduates of the University of Delaware.
Head Athletic Trainer Keith Handling