FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine Zevon Stubblefield announced on Tuesday the hiring of Ben Wood as the newest athletic trainer for the Sharks, completing the staff as NSU kicks off the 2019-20 school year. Wood will work with the Sharks’ volleyball and softball teams.
“I’m excited to be back in the SSC as a Shark,” Wood said. “I’m looking forward to being able to grow with the NSU athletics teams.”
Wood comes to Nova Southeastern after working in multiple capacities over the last five years at IMG Academy. Wood began his tenure at the world-class Bradenton, Fla. sports facility as a Basketball Athletic Trainer in June 2014. Since May 2018, he’s served the facility as the ATP Challenger Tour Athletic Trainer, working with professional tennis players.
“I’m very proud to welcome Ben Wood to the Sharks family,” Stubblefield said. “Ben brings a wealth of great experience, skills and education to the position. Ben has helped athletes from every level of competition and our NSU student-athletes are fortunate to have Ben as their athletic trainer.”
While earning his master’s degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at the University of Florida, Wood served as an outreach athletic trainer for local high schools at UF’s Orthopedic Sports Medicine Institute (2012-14). Prior to beginning his graduate coursework, Wood also served the Tampa Bay Rowdies as an athletic trainer during their 2012 NASL Championship season.
A Gainesville, Fla. native, Wood is already familiar with the Sunshine State Conference, earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Tampa in Sports Medicine/Athletic Training in 2012 after wrapping up four years of competition as a coxswain in men’s varsity crew. While at UT, Wood also spent four years with the Spartans as an athletic training student. In addition, Wood earned his Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification in 2013.