Jim Madaleno, Executive Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine and Performance, Will Retire
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Jim Madaleno, the Executive Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine and Performance at the University of Kentucky, is retiring after 28 years of service.
Madaleno’s last official day at the University is Monday, August 18. He will be succeeded by Courtney Jones, Senior Athletic Trainer for the UK women’s basketball and rifle teams.
Madaleno arrived at UK in 1997 as the head athletics trainer, working primarily with Wildcat football. He was promoted to Director of Sports Medicine in 2004. In 2015, with the growth of the UK Athletics program, Madaleno moved into an advisory role with football while overseeing a steady expansion of health services provided to student-athletes.
In 2018, Madaleno was promoted to his current responsibility as Executive Associate Athletics Director of Sports Medicine and Performance. In addition to athletic training, he also oversees the strength and conditioning program, sports sciences, performance nutrition and mental health initiatives, along with serving as the athletics liaison to UK HealthCare.
“Jim Madaleno’s effect on the sports medicine field has reached far beyond our student-athletes, as he has made significant impact on our University, in the Southeastern Conference and nationally,” said Mitch Barnhart, UK Director of Athletics. “While his accomplishments are many, and his legacy will have influence for years to come, Jim’s central focus always has been the well-being of the student-athletes entrusted to his care.”
Working with UK HealthCare and the UK College of Health Sciences, Madaleno had significant involvement in the creation and curriculum development of a masters program in athletic training. Over the years, the program has developed numerous certified athletics trainers, with particular benefit for UK Athletics and the Fayette County School System as needs for certified trainers have grown.
Over the years, Madaleno has mentored hundreds of undergraduate students, graduate students, and assistant athletic trainers in the early stages of their careers. His proteges include the current head athletic trainers with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins, along with the head athletic trainers or directors of sports medicine at Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Wichita State. (Of particular pride is the head football athletic trainer at Georgia, Jim’s son, Ryan Madaleno.)
In 2024, Madaleno was honored with the inaugural James R. Andrews Award, given by the Southern Orthopedic Association, for excellence and lifelong commitment to the field of sports medicine and care of Southeastern Conference student-athletes.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Madaleno was appointed to the Southeastern Conference Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force and eventually received the league’s Michael L. Slive Distinguished Service Award for his work with that group.
In 2018, Madaleno won the Chris Patrick Award, given by the SEC Sports Medicine Committee, which recognizes work ethic, loyalty and a caring nature to student-athletes.
“It’s hard to believe that I’ve served 28 years as the head athletic trainer at Kentucky since it feels like I got here yesterday,” said Madaleno, whose 28 years is the longest term of any head athletic trainer in UK history.
“I am thankful to (former athletics director) C.M. Newton for putting his trust in me by hiring me,” Madaleno said. “When Mitch Barnhart got here, he had a vision to create a division that included all the areas that touch the student-athletes, from a health and physical development standpoint, on a daily basis. For him to promote me twice during the development of that program has been humbling, to say the least.
“The thing I’m going to miss the most is the day-to-day interaction with the young professionals on my staff along with the student-athletes – not just their injuries, but their life lessons, their concerns, the personal things that make up their daily lives.”
Originally from Dearborn, Michigan, Madaleno began his career as a student assistant athletics trainer at Michigan State, where he graduated in 1980. He was a graduate assistant in 1980-81 at Florida State, where he earned his master’s degree in movement science.
Madaleno became the first full-time athletics trainer at Valdosta State University in 1982 with the inception of the school’s football program. He became an assistant athletics trainer for the New York Giants in 1985 and was with the team when the Giants defeated Denver in the 1987 Super Bowl.
Madaleno joined the renowned Hughston Sports Medicine clinic in Columbus, Ga., in 1988. He returned to Valdosta State in 1989 and was there until moving to Lexington.
Appropriately, Madaleno will be succeeded by one of his proteges, Senior Athletics Trainer Courtney Jones, who is being promoted to Executive Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine and Performance.
Jones has 24 years of professional experience in the field, including the last 16 at Kentucky. She has been the athletics trainer for women’s basketball since her arrival at UK and has worked with several additional sports, including a current assignment with UK’s national champion rifle program. In addition, she oversees all women’s health issues and protocols for all sports.
“Our sports medicine and performance program is a vital part of UK Athletics and we are excited for Courtney to handle this role,” said Barnhart. “She has demonstrated consistent excellence in a variety of responsibilities, with professional expertise and personal care for our student-athletes.”
The Crown Point, Indiana, native completed her bachelor’s degree in athletic training at Purdue in 2001. For the next two years, she was under Madaleno’s guidance as a graduate assistant, working with the Wildcat swimming and diving teams while earning her masters degree in kinesiology.
Following graduation, Jones worked at Barton College as an athletic trainer and assistant professor in kinesiology. She worked at Northwestern University from 2004-09, working with the women’s basketball and cross country teams.
Jones has earned certifications as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist and in Sound Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization. She is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and College Athletic Trainers Society.
“I am thrilled with the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of my mentor, Jim Madaleno,” Jones said. “I am so grateful to Mr. Barnhart and this administration for entrusting me with this new role. The University of Kentucky is such a special place to me, and I am honored to be able to continue to serve our student-athlete population in this next chapter of my time here.”
