David A. Iannicca ’03 MSEd., ATC, CSCS, PES, CES Certified Athletic Trainer Omaha Storm Chasers

When players for the Triple-A baseball team Omaha Storm Chasers get injured on the field or during practice, certified athletic trainer David Iannicca ’03 is there to help.

Iannicca, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training and Clinic Management from BGSU, is an athletic trainer for the Omaha team, an affiliate of major league club Kansas City Royals. He’s in charge of keeping 25 players in top shape: evaluating and rehabilitating any injuries, instructing team members on injury prevention, and designing conditioning and strength training workouts to enhance their performance on the field.

“The fact that I get to be involved in professional sports is exciting,” Iannicca said.  “Being part of the team and the interaction I have with the players and staff, we’re essentially like a small family.”

During the baseball season, which runs April through September, Iannicca’s workdays often go from 11 a.m. until midnight, packed with rehabilitation sessions, training practice, and paperwork, he said. He also helps coordinate team travel arrangements, booking flights to games all over the country. Out of a total of 144 games in a season, half are in cities other than Omaha. That means that on the few days Iannicca has off, he’s usually on the road.

“It gets a little crazy sometimes,” he acknowledged. But, “it’s neat to go to all these different cities. Cities you’d never even think of travelling to you get an opportunity to see.”

Iannicca has worked with the Omaha Storm Chasers and other Kansas City Royals affiliates since 2007. During the off-season he returns to Virginia Beach, Va. - where he lives with his wife and young son - and provides medical care for high school, middle school, and physical therapy clinic athletes under a local hospital program. He has also worked as an athletic trainer for the Gulf Coast League Braves – an Atlanta Braves affiliate – and for Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk. In addition to his BGSU degree, he holds a Master of Science in Education with a focus in Athletic Training from Old Dominion University.

Iannicca credits his professors at Bowling Green with getting him started on his career path, particularly Chris Schommer M.Ed., ATC, senior lecturer for the School of Human Movement, Sport and Leisure Studies. It was Schommer’s introductory course on athletic training that sparked Iannicca’s interest in the field, the alumnus said.

“It made me realize, this is what I wanted to do,” Iannicca recalled.

Internships and the opportunity to network with sports industry professionals also played a big role in launching his career, the athletic trainer said. Following his studies at BGSU, Iannicca interned with New York Yankees affiliate the Columbus Clippers, and at the organization’s spring training and player development center in Tampa, Florida. That helped him land his subsequent positions in professional baseball, he said.

Iannicca advised aspiring athletic trainers to study hard and make connections with people in the industry.

“Network as much as you can, meet as many people as you can,” the athletic trainer said. “You never know which one of them could lead you to your dream job down the road.”

Even with two degrees and multiple certifications under his belt, Iannicca emphasized that it’s important for anyone working in sports medicine to keep up-to-date with new research, training, and rehabilitation techniques.

“Things are always changing,” Iannicca indicated. “You’ve got to be a student for life.”