April 27, 2004

CHAPEL HILL -- Bill Prentice, the head athletic trainer for the University of North Carolina women's soccer team and curriculum director for UNC's Master's Program in Athletic Training, has been chosen as one of the inductees for the class of 2004 National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Hall of Fame.

The National Athletic Trainers' Association is proud to recognize the 2004 NATA Hall of Fame inductees. This prestigious honor is bestowed on certified athletic trainers who've made a true difference in the profession.

"Dedication, innovation, loyalty and leadership are common traits among Hall of Fame members," said NATA Executive Director Eve Becker-Doyle, CAE. "Those who receive the honor serve as an inspiration to their peers and as role models to the next generation of certified athletic trainers."

Prentice has worked at Carolina since 1980 as a professor in the Sports Medicine Program, a clinical professor in the Division of Physical Therapy and an associate professor in the Department of Orthopaedics. He is the author of eight books on sports medicine and athletic training.

In the fall of 2004, Prentice will begin his 25th season as the head trainer for the Carolina women's soccer team. He has been the head trainer for 18 national championships, including the 2003 NCAA title.