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Gerry Schlemer, who began his athletic training career in 1982 as a student athletic trainer at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, returned in 2004 to become the fifth Head Athletic Trainer at his alma mater. Schlemer returned to SIUE with more than 18 years of athletic training experience at the collegiate, clinical, high school, and professional levels. As Assistant Athletic Director for student athlete welfare, Schlemer oversees operations in athletic training, strength and conditioning, as well as the department's risk management operations. Schlemer works with a staff of three other certified athletic trainers to provide care and preventative services to the more than 300 student athletes in 18 sports at SIUE. His primary coverage assignment is with the men's basketball team, covering practices as well as home and away contests. He also provides additional coverage for the other 17 sports. He serves as an advisor for the SIUE American Red Cross Club, and has been a adjunct faculty member in the Kinesiology and Health Education Department. After graduating from SIUE in 1986, Schlemer attended The Miami University where he served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer, while earning his master's degree in health education in 1987. Following a short stint as an assistant athletic trainer at Saint Louis University, Schlemer became the Coordinator of Sports Medicine at The Physical Therapy Center (South St. Louis County) from 1988 to 1996 where he coordinated the sports medicine outreach program for high school, college and professional teams. As part of his outreach duties, Schlemer served as an athletic trainer for the follow organizations: Harris-Stowe State College (1988-89), St. Louis Professional Soccer, Inc. (i.e. St. Louis Storm, St. Louis Ambush(1989 to 1994), and Oakville Senior High School (1995-96). From 1996-2004, Schlemer was the school's first and only full time certified athletic trainer at Siena Heights (Mich.) University covering 14 sports with 200 + athletes. While at Siena Heights, Schlemer wore many hats in the athletic department, from equipment manger to hall of fame secretary, even working on the grounds crew. He also served as an adjunct faculty member, teaching nutrition, first aid/CPR, anatomy and physiology classes. Schlemer is a Certified Athletic Trainer and has been a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) for 26 years. He is also Licensed as an Athletic Trainer by the State of Illinois. Schlemer has been a health and safety instructor for the American Red Cross for 27 years teaching first aid, CPR, and Blood Borne Prevention classes. Schlemer has been a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and was also an inaugural inductee in the SIUE Chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma (a National Health Education Honorarium). Schlemer has been very involved with Special Olympics Illinois at the local and state level. He has been a volunteer since 1983 and been on the Summer Games Medical Committee since 1988 (serving as chair since 1993). He has been the head athletic trainer for the Illinois Delegation to three Special Olympic World Summer Games (1991,1995, 1999) and one Special Olympics National Games (2006). He was also the head athletic trainer for Team USA to the 1997 Special Olympic World Winter Games in Toronto. In 1995, Schlemer was the Recipient of the Special Olympics Illinois Outstanding Volunteer Award. Schlemer resides in Edwardsville.