July 3, 2007

Wayne State alum Tom Abdenour was a 2007 NATA (National Athletic Trainers' Association) Hall of Fame Inductee.

Taken from the NATA site --

Tom Abdenour, MA, ATC has been spent the last 20 years in the National Basketball Association, and currently serves as head athletic trainer for the Golden State Warriors. Since his certification in 1977, Tom has served on numerous state association and NATA committees or working groups, including a term as chair of the Honors and Awards Committee and a term as president of the Utah Athletic Trainers' Association. As an active member of the National Basketball Athletic Trainers' Association, Tom has organized NBATA/NATA Athletic Training Student workshop, served as the liaison to the Basketball Hall of Fame and as an executive committee member.

Tom's work has been recognized through numerous honors, such as NBATA Athletic Trainer of Year (1990) and Tim Kerin Award winner (2005). He was featured in Sports Illustrated for his community service work as the founder of the CHAMPION Guidance Center for Men in Oakland, CA.

A tireless advocate of correct usage of "athletic trainer" terminology, Tom has spent countless hours educating national media on the importance of using the correct term for members of the profession. He is also known around the NATA office as an "idea man," whose innovative suggestions are frequently put into action.