Staff Athletic Trainers

John Kasik

Position: Associate AD/Sports Medicine

Alma Mater: West Virginia University, BS; University of Miami, MS

Phone: (803) 777-7885

Email: kasikjo@mailbox.sc.edu

John Kasik was named director of sports medicine for the University of South Carolina on July 3, 2007. Kasik has decades years of athletic training experience and came to Columbia from Stanford University, where he served as the head athletic trainer during the 2006-07 school year. A native of Baltimore, Md., Kasik has ties to the region as he was the head athletic trainer for the Carolina Panthers from 1994 through 2002.

As director of sports medicine, Kasik assists in the overall management and coordination of South Carolina's athletic training/sports medicine program. He also helps coordinate all phases of health care for Gamecock student-athletes.

During his time at Stanford, Kasik managed the athletic training department with a staff of up to 10 full time athletic trainers and eight part-time graduate assistants. He coordinated health physicals, treatment, training, injury reports and rehabilitation of Cardinal athletes and staff. He determined the budget for supplies and oversaw ordering for department facilities.

Before taking the job at Stanford, he was the athletic trainer and set medic for the NBC television series "The Biggest Loser 3" in 2006. His primary function on the set was the day-to-day healthcare and treatment of the cast and the crew that worked on location during the filming of the show.

Kasik's résumé includes stops with three NFL teams, highlighted by an eight-year tenure as head athletic trainer for the Carolina Panthers, where he managed a staff that included two full-time athletic trainers, six part-time athletic trainers and assistants. He coordinated health physicals, treatment, training and rehabilitation and developed a computerized team injury reporting and tracking system in addition to designing health history, medication recording and coach's injury report forms.

He began his healthcare career in 1979 as an assistant athletic trainer for the Baltimore Colts. He stepped out of the NFL for a year to serve as a graduate assistant athletic trainer and earn his master's degree from the University of Miami during the 1980-81 school year before returning to the Colts for two more seasons. His time with the Colts was followed by 11 years as the assistant athletic trainer for the Seattle Seahawks from 1983 through 1994, where the Seahawks made the playoffs four times, making it to the AFC championship game in 1984. During his 22 years in the NFL, Kasik served as an athletic trainer for two Pro Bowl games. During his time with the Seahawks, Kasik was a member of the NFL Training Staff of the Year in 1988.

A 1980 graduate of West Virginia with a degree in secondary education, social studies, Kasik earned a master's in physical education, athletic training, from the University of Miami in 1981. He is married to the former Sally Grace. The couple has a son, John, Jr., and two daughters, Kathleen and Caroline.

Brainard Cooper

Position: Associate Athletic Trainer

Sport Assignment: Baseball/Men's Soccer

Alma Mater: University of Tennessee-Chatanooga, BA; University of South Carolina, MA

Phone: (803) 777-4272

Email: brainard@mailbox.sc.edu

Brainard Cooper serves as the athletic trainer for baseball and men's soccer. Cooper was promoted to associate athletic trainer in 2000 after joining the Carolina training staff as a graduate assistant in 1983 and became full-time in 1986. He also oversees the Spring Sports Center Athletic Training Facility and performs other administrative duties.

Born Lemont Brainard Cooper on May 24, 1958, he grew up in Dayton, Tenn., graduating from Rhea County High School. He received a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1983 and a Master of Arts in teaching from the University of South Carolina in 1986. Cooper began his athletic training career as a freshman at UT-Chattanooga.

Scott Gardner

Position: Assistant Athletic Trainer

Sport Assignment: Track & Field/XC

Alma Mater: University of Kentucky, BS; Louisiana State University,  MS

Phone: (803) 777-4272

Email: gardne01@mailbox.sc.edu

Scott Gardner serves as the athletic trainer for the University of South Carolina's men's and women's track and field teams as well as the women's cross country team. Scott joined the Gamecocks' athletic training staff in August 2009.

Prior to coming to Columbia, Scott was employed at Ohio University originally as an assistant athletic trainer then eventually promoted to assistant director of sports medicine services. During his stay at Ohio, Scott was responsible for the baseball, wrestling, and women's field hockey teams. Scott worked as an athletic trainer at sports medicine facilities in Nashville, Tenn., for nine years providing medical care to local high schools throughout the middle Tennessee area. During 1995 and 1996, Scott was selected to work at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs for a 12 month fellowship program. During this time, he was assigned to the 1996 US Junior World Speedskating team traveling to Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Scott is also an accomplished sports photographer, having been published in Sports Illustrated, USA Today, and many other various magazines and newspapers around the country. During his time at Ohio University, he also served as the athletics department photographer.

Scott is originally from Titusville, Fla. He received his bachelor's from the University of Kentucky in 1985 and his master's from Louisiana State University in 1987.

Daryl Faulkner

Position: Assistant Athletic Trainer

Sport Assignment: Football

Alma Mater: University of Kentucky, BS; University of Tennessee-Chatanooga, MA

Phone: (803) 777-4272

Email: faulkn22@mailbox.sc.edu

Daryl first joined the Gamecocks in the summer of 2012 as an intern where he provided coverage for Grays Military Academy. Daryl also had the opportunity to work with several local high schools and colleges around the city of Columbia. He covered only one home football game vs. Wofford that season for the Gamecocks. He began to work more with the football season during their bowl practices at the end of 2012. At the beginning of 2013, Daryl returned in a more stable role as an intern athletic trainer with the Gamecocks football program as well as still covering Grays Military Academy. In the summer of 2013, Daryl moved on from his internship to take an Assistant Athletic Trainer position at Houston Baptist University in Houston, TX primarily responsible for Men's Basketball. Daryl also worked with Men's and Women's Soccer, Men's and Women's Golf, Women's Basketball, and Football while at Houston Baptist University. After one full year at Houston Baptist University, Daryl returns to the Garnet & Black as one of the Assistant Football Athletic Trainer.

Daryl received his Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Kentucky in 2010. While at the University of Kentucky, Daryl played defensive back from 2006-2009. He went on to receive his Master's Degree in Athletic Training from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2012. In the summer of 2011, Daryl did an internship with Western Kentucky University helping out with football as well as an internship with the Tennessee Titans.

Clint Haggard

Position: Head Football Athletic Trainer

Sport Assignment: Football

Alma Mater: University of Georgia, BS; University of Alabama, MA

Phone: (803) 777-4272

Email: chaggard@mailbox.sc.edu

Clint Haggard begins his fifth season at the University of South Carolina. He was named head football athletic trainer on July 22, 2009.

Haggard has experience both as a head athletic trainer and in the Southeastern Conference. Most recently, he served as the assistant athletics director for medical services/head athletic trainer at Rice University, a position he held since May 2006.

Haggard came to Rice after spending the previous two seasons as assistant football athletic trainer at the University of Alabama. Prior to that, he was a graduate assistant athletic trainer at Alabama for two years. While at Alabama, he developed and implemented the Alabama Sports Medicine Workshop that provided learning opportunities for high school athletic trainers across the Southeast.

In the fall of 2001, Haggard served as coordinator of medical services for the Georgia State Flag Football Championships, providing medical coverage for more than 700 athletes. He has also served internships for the Indianapolis Colts (summer of 2001) and for the Cincinnati Reds (summer of 2000). Additionally, he serves as an adjunct instructor in the Athletic Training Education Program, and serves on the program committee for the South Carolina Athletic Trainers Association. He has been a speaker at numerous conferences around the country in addition to publishing many articles and successfully procuring several athletic training-related grants.

Haggard received his bachelor's degree in exercise and sport science for the University of Georgia in 2002 and his master's degree in health sciences from Alabama in 2003.

Haggard is certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association. Additionally, he is certified as an emergency medical technician-basic. Haggard holds member- ships with numerous national, state and district athletic training associations.

Haggard and his wife, Erin, have a daughter, Reagan, and a son, Brewer.

Jen Herod

Position: Assistant Athletic Trainer

Sport Assignment: Volleyball/Softball

Alma Mater: Purdue University, BS; University of South Carolina, MS

Phone: (803) 777-0178

Email: herodjr@mailbox.sc.edu

Jen Herod, ATC, began working as an athletic trainer at the University of South Carolina during the 2005-06 academic year, working with women's basketball, men's and women's tennis, and men's and women's golf. Herod is also the coordinator for the athletic department's Management Team for Disordered Eating.

Previously, she was an assistant athletic trainer at Ball State University for nine years. She received her bachelor's in athletic training and movement and sport science from Purdue University and a master's in public health administration from the University of South Carolina.

She and her husband, Kevin, have two daughters, Olivia and Aubrey.

Mark Rodger

Position: Assistant Athletic Trainer

Sport Assignment: Men's Basketball/Men's Golf/Men's Tennis

Alma Mater: University of Buffalo, BS; University of South Carolina, MAT

Phone: (803) 777-5182

Email: rodger@mailbox.sc.edu

Mark Rodger began working as the athletic trainer for the Gamecock men's basketball team for the 2006-07 season. He also serves as an Approved Clinical Instructor and teaches in the undergraduate athletic training curriculum program.

Prior to USC, Rodger spent three years at East Carolina University, where his primary responsibilities were men's basketball, fall baseball and golf. He also worked as a lecturer and clinical instructor in the undergraduate athletic training curriculum program.

Originally from Berlin, Germany, Rodger received his Bachelor of Science in exercise science with a specialized concentration in athletic training from the University of Buffalo in 2001. He attended graduate school at USC, where he earned a Master of Arts and teaching degree in physical education in 2003.

Stephanie Rosehart

Position: Assistant Athletic Trainer

Sport Assignment: Women's Soccer/Women's Golf/Women's Tennis

Alma Mater: University of Southern Mississippi, BS; Eastern Kentucky University, Med

Phone: (803) 777-0984

Email: rosehart@mailbox.sc.edu

Stephanie Rosehart joined the University of South Carolina's athletic training staff in 2004 and began overseeing women's soccer in 2006. She also oversees a certified graduate assistant athletic trainer with men's and women's swimming and diving. She also works with the Management Team of Disordered Eating and is the state representative to the Women in Athletic Training Committee (WATC).

Rosehart came to USC from the University of Southern Mississippi, where she served as associate athletic trainer and provided athletic training services for women's basketball and volleyball.

Rosehart graduated with a Bachelor of Science in human performance from Southern Miss in 1995. While at USM, she worked with the football and women's basketball teams, as well as Hattiesburg High School.

Rosehart later received a Master of Education in school health from Eastern Kentucky University. During her stay at EKU, Rosehart assisted with the football, women's basketball and softball teams and supplied athletic training coverage at Madison Southern High School.

Lauren Salas

Position: Assistant Athletic Trainer

Sport Assignment: Swimming & Diving

Alma Mater: University of Nevada, BS; University of Arkansas, MS

Phone: (803) 777-4272

Email: salsal@mailbox.sc.edu

Rachel Sharpe

Position: Assistant Athletic Trainer

Sport Assignment: Football/Cheerleading

Alma Mater: Samford University, BS; University of South Carolina, MS

Phone: (803) 777-4272

Email: sharperl@mailbox.sc.edu

Rachel Sharpe enters her third season as an assistant athletic trainer at the University of South Carolina. She works primarily with the football team and provides secondary coverage to the cheerleading squad.

Sharpe served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer from 2009-11 while working towards her master's in physical education with a concentration in athletic training. In her first year as a graduate assistant, she assisted with coverage of the USC football team. The following year, she served as the head athletic trainer at WJ Keenan High School in Columbia, where she provided coverage to all teams, including the 2011 2A Boys Basketball State Champions. During the summer of 2010, She completed a preseason internship with the Tennessee Titans of the NFL.

Originally from Jefferson City, Tenn., Sharpe received her Bachelor's degree in athletic training from Samford University in 2008. She is certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association and holds memberships in several state, district and national athletic training and sports medicine organizations.

Marcella Shorty

Position: Assistant Athletic Trainer

Sport Assignment: Women's Basketball/Equestrian

Alma Mater: 

Phone: (803) 777-4272

Email: