Texas Border Business
RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Monday that Steven Kraus, who previously worked with the department from 2016-19, is returning to UTRGV as the Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine.
In his new role, Kraus will oversee four assistant athletic trainers and all student trainers while overseeing the operations of three training rooms, working directly with student-athletes and coaches, and coordinating all aspects of sports medicine. Kraus will work directly with the UTRGV School of Medicine and UT Health RGV physicians in an effort to continue to deliver premium care to all of UTRGV’s 16 varsity programs.
Kraus spent the last year working with the athletic training staff, and specifically the men’s basketball program, at Florida International University (FIU).
“We are excited to welcome Steven back to UTRGV as our Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine. Steven’s experience as both a sports medicine professional and student-athlete, coupled with his energy and passion for the Valley, makes him a great fit for our department,” UTRGV Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque said. “Steven and I share a vision to deliver top-notch care to our student-athletes. We are fortunate to have a tremendous partner in our School of Medicine and UT Health RGV, and I look forward to future collaborations as we continue to elevate our sports medicine division.”
During Kraus’ initial tenure at UTRGV, he worked primarily with the men’s basketball and men’s and women’s golf programs while assisting with men’s and women’s tennis.
Kraus completed his Master’s in Athletic Training at Florida International University (FIU) in May of 2016. During his first stint at FIU, he primarily worked with men’s basketball while assisting with all other sports.
Kraus completed at internship in St. Georges, Grenada, where he provided athletic training services in a rehabilitation clinic while having the opportunity to work under one of the two orthopedic physicians on the island.
When Kraus returned to the United States, he worked at a local high school, providing coverage for games and practices during the fall of 2015.
During the spring of 2016, Kraus worked at Key Biscayne Physical Therapy, providing treatment and rehabilitation services to patients with a wide variety of orthopedic injuries.
“I am very excited to be coming back to UTRGV,” Kraus said. “It is a special place with a lot of great people that I look forward to working with again. I hope to build an outstanding program and try to continue to develop and grow the level of care we provide for our student athletes.”
A native of St. Petersburg, Fla., Kraus completed his bachelor’s degree in exercise science and psychology at Milligan College, where he played basketball all four years.
