Jeff Rudy, PhD, ATC

Jeff Rudy is affiliated with the Nebraska Athletic Medicine program, serving as the Director of Athletic Training Education at the University of Nebraska. Rudy became the director of athletic training education in 1998, with an appointment in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Science. In 2011 he was promoted to the rank of associate professor. 

Under his leadership, UNL's program has received and maintained national accreditation from CAATE.

Several of the program graduates have gone on to intern for professional sports teams, and they have been successful in earning professional scholarships and awards for their academic work.

Students from the program pass the required national certification exams at a rate far exceeding the national average. Graduates of the Nebraska athletic training program can be found working with athletes at all levels of competition in programs from coast to coast. In 2015-16, Rudy reached a milestone with his 200th former athletic training student passing the certification examination to earn an ATC credential.

In addition to his academic duties as the director of athletic training education, Rudy also assists with medical care at special events when Nebraska's Athletic Medicine team requires additional assistance to its full-time staff. For the past four years he has assisted with coverage for the men's gymnastics team. 

Rudy earned his bachelor's degree in athletic training from Pittsburgh in 1987 and completed his master's degree in the area of exercise physiology in 1990. He was then hired as Athletic Training Curriculum Director and assistant athletic trainer at Kansas State, where he also completed a doctorate in curriculum and instruction.

Rudy resides in Lincoln with his wife, Melanie. He is an avid runner, having completed 18 marathons, with a personal best of 3:46 in the 2012 Fargo marathon.