Hall of Honor
Athletic Trainer
Beginning in 1989, Downey developed the expansion of EMU’s athletic training services from one person to a team of three full-time athletic trainers, a team physician, and work-study students. During his tenure at EMU, Downey gave care to thousands of student-athletes. He was also instrumental in the design of the current University Commons Athletic Training Room.
As preceptor for the JMU Athletic Training Education Department, Downey worked with more than 100 athletic training students and counts that among one of his career accomplishments.
Downey was with the Royals teams for many of the biggest athletic moments in school history, including the field hockey team’s trip to the NCAA Final Four in 1995, a tournament trip with the men’s soccer team in 1998, NCAA-qualifying seasons for men’s and women’s basketball, men’s volleyball hosting the Final Four in 2004, and Erik Kratz earning back-to-back ODAC Player of the Year awards in 2001 and 2002.
