Columbia, MO - The Columbia College Athletic Department has announced the hiring of Ryan Novatny as the next Head Athletic Trainer for Cougar sports. 

Novatny joins the Cougars after six years at Westminster College, where he most recently served as Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine and Performance. During his tenure, he provided leadership for sports medicine operations, oversaw healthcare services for more than 20 athletic programs and over 400 student-athletes, and helped establish the institution's first sports performance initiative. He also played a key role in developing partnerships with local healthcare providers to enhance access to specialty care and support services for student-athletes.

"Throughout the interview process, Ryan impressed me with his passion for growing the athletic training profession and advancing sports medicine as a whole. His vision, energy, and commitment to student athlete care stood out immediately. We are excited to welcome him to Columbia College and look forward to the leadership he will bring," said Director of Athletics Cindy Potter. 

Prior to his promotion to Assistant Athletic Director, Novatny served as Director of Sports Medicine and Associate Athletic Trainer at Westminster. Throughout his career, he has worked extensively with collegiate student-athletes in injury prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, emergency care, and return-to-play management.

Before joining Westminster College, Novatny served as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer at Central Methodist University. During that time, he worked with Central Methodist's back-to-back NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship teams in 2018 and 2019 while also providing care for numerous NAIA All-Americans and national qualifiers in cross country and track & field.

A native of Missouri, Novatny earned a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from the University of Missouri and a Master of Education from Central Methodist University. He is a Board of Certification (BOC) Certified Athletic Trainer, a licensed athletic trainer in the state of Missouri, and an American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor.

"Being able to serve student-athletes in the community I call home makes this opportunity especially meaningful," said Novatny. "I'm excited to join Columbia College and look forward to collaborating with coaches, administrators, and healthcare partners to provide the highest level of care and support while helping create an environment where our student-athletes can perform at their best both on and off the field."

Ryan and his wife, Madalyn, reside in Columbia with their son, Nathan, and daughter, Nora.