The Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers' Association award honors Baker's leadership and service in his profession.
“Marty is nationally respected among college athletics administrators and his colleagues in athletic training and we’re thrilled he is receiving this honor,” said Elon Director of Athletics Dave Blank. “I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Marty during my entire tenure at Elon and witnessed the positive impact he’s had on our student-athletes. Marty is a special person and well deserving of this recognition.”
In his role at Elon, Baker serves as the coordinator for athletic insurance and is the athletic trainer for the Phoenix volleyball and women’s tennis teams. Baker holds the rank of Assistant Professor of Exercise Sports Science in the Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences.
From 1980-2007, Baker held the title of Head Athletic Trainer at Elon. From 1998-2007, he established the institution’s Athletic Trainer Education Program, writing the self-study and achieving accreditation as well as reaccreditation in 2005. His service to the profession of athletic training is varied; from 1997- 2003 Baker served as a committee member and then chair of the NATA History and Archives Committee. He served as MAATA Secretary and Treasurer from 2003-2009. From 2009-2013 Baker served the members of the MAATA as District Director and represented the district on the NATA Board of Directors. In addition, he has served two terms on the Board of Certification’s Nominating Committee and the NATA Research and Education Foundation as a member of the Scholarship Committee.
In 2000 Baker was the recipient of the North Carolina Athletic Trainers’ Association’s College and University Athletic Trainer of the Year. In 2010 Baker was inducted into the NCATA’s Hall of Fame. In 2014 he received the NATA’s Athletic Trainer Service Award. In 2016 Baker was honored with the MAATA’s Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer.
MAATA is one of ten regional associations that encompass the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA). For more information, visit maata.org.