KIRKLAND, WA – Larry Brown has been named the new Athletic Trainer at Northwest University, replacing Jim Richards, who is retiring after seven years at Northwest and 50 years as an educator, coach and athletic trainer.

Larry Brown comes to NU with a list of qualifications that is long and similar to the man he replaces. Brown has been the head Athletic Trainer and a teacher at Liberty High School in Issaquah since 2001. Prior to this position, Larry spent 1998-2001 as the head trainer at Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, and for ten years (1988-98) he held the same position for all sports at Fife High School near Tacoma.

Brown began his teaching career in 1968 and has been a department head, and teacher and a head wrestling coach for 22 years. In addition to his high school athletic training experience, Brown has also been a trainer for the Seattle Sounders soccer team and Emerald Downs Race Track. In 1989, he was an assistant athletic trainer for the Portland Trailblazers’ rookie camps and a volunteer trainer for the Goodwill Games in Seattle in 1990.

Richard’s coaching and teaching career began at Sumner High School in 1957, where he created and coached the wrestling team. In 1959, Richards moved to Bellevue High, coaching football and wrestling and winning the first official WIAA state wrestling championship in 1963. Jim began his athletic training career in 1976 after being certified by the NATA (National Athletic Trainers Association). In 1976, he founded the state’s first high school sports medicine program at Sammamish High School by which many high schools pattern their programs today. In 1990, Richards was inducted in the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame.

At Northwest U., Richards’ hard work and efforts earned him the NAIA Athletic Trainer of the Year award in 2005. Last fall, a new training room was opened, in which Richards was responsible for much of the renovation and construction. This new room has allowed Jim Richards and his student staff to treat more athletes on a more efficient and timely basis.

“Northwest University and Eagle coaches and athletes owe Jim a great deal of gratitude for what he has done for them over the past seven years,” commented Gary McIntosh, Director of Athletics. “Jim’s dedication to his profession and the well-being of his athletes has been outstanding, and his selflessness has shown in the way he cares for them. Jim has always looked out for the best interests and health of our athletes. We thank Jim for the many years of service here at Northwest U,” added McIntosh.

 “We are very fortunate to have Larry Brown joining Northwest University Athletics. His qualifications are endless and will surely benefit our athletes. Larry came to us highly recommended by Jim Richards, so we are very confident we have found a suitable replacement for Jim,” concluded McIntosh.