Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Veteran NBA trainer joins XU sports medicine staff

MARK ARMOUR II
NEW ORLEANS — The Xavier University of Louisiana athletics department announced Monday the hiring of Mark Armour II, formerly of the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans, as athletic trainer.

Armour worked for the Pelicans from 2010-15 and provided the team with daily sports medicine coverage. Among his many duties, he developed and administered rehabilitation protocols.

Armour has a combined 10 years of experience at the professional and collegiate levels. He was an athletic training assistant during the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl championship season of 2009, and he worked two years as a graduate assistant trainer at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, from 2007-09. Armour also interned with the Arena Football League's New Orleans Voodoo in 2006 and 2007.

"Mark is a valued asset to the Ochsner Sports Medicine team," Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute's Jordan Blough said. "We are excited he is now able to share his knowledge and skills with Xavier Athletics."

Armour will be the primary sports medicine contact for men's basketball, men's and women's cross country and men's and women's track and field. He will assist with the other teams as needed.

"Mark brings a wealth of experience managing and working with athletes at the NCAA Division I level, as well as the world-class athletes of the NFL (Saints) and most recently the NBA (Pelicans)," said Jason Horn, XU director of athletics and recreation. "Mark will prove to be an excellent addition to our support staff as we continue to progress in the classroom and work to improve our programs to compete at a high level nationally."

Armour received his bachelor's degree in athletic training from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2007 and his master's in kinesiology from Lamar in 2009. He lettered in football (wide receiver) and baseball (right-handed pitcher) at Clark Atlanta University and ran the 800 and 1,500 meters on the track team.

Armour is licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners and is a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association.

"I am excited about starting this new venture in my career," Armour said. "Xavier University has such a rich history and tradition here in my hometown, and I'm looking forward to being a part of the success of the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets. I appreciate the coaches and administrators for selecting me to be a member of their team."

The XU trainer positions are part of the partnership between Xavier Athletics and Ochsner Health System's sports medicine division. XU's other full-time athletic trainer is Allie Wood, a member of the staff since April 2014.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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