Athletics

Kirsten Schrader, left, succeeded Mary Broos, right, in the spring as Broos concluded 30 years as the first woman to head a college athletic training program with football in North Carolina.

By Ty Buckner

The impact of Mary Broos—Guilford's athletic trainer the past 30 years—can be measured in greeting cards.

Dozens of them arrive each Christmas and other special occasions at the Thomasville, N.C., farm that has been in the Broos family for generations. Former students write to share stories of job successes and challenges, marriages and families and just to see how she's doing.

"I'm so grateful that people come to Guilford and then don't forget you," she said. "They call me and stop by when they are in town. It's a big family." For Broos, the Guilford experience is all about relationships.

In her role as athletic trainer and sport studies instructor, Broos has treated, counseled, encouraged and consoled thousands of students over the years. Besides sharing her expertise in sports medicine both on the playing field and in the classroom, she has been a mentor and mother figure to many of the students.

"She was constantly looking after me," says Dickson Schaefer, an orthopedist in Fayetteville, N.C., and former assistant trainer. "At the simplest level, she was always everyone's biggest cheerleader. The confidence she had in everybody was incredible. Until you've been one of Mary's kids, it's hard to understand it."

Schaefer came to Guilford in 1989 after graduating from N.C. State. When he decided to pursue medical school, Broos saw that he had time to take prerequisite classes and build relationships with doctors who were working with the athletic program.

Broos's connections with area doctors provided by George Rovere, who taught Broos anatomy in the Teacher Athletic Trainer Instructional Program at N.C. State. Bob Wainer
and Bert Fields of Greensboro, among others, have continued the tradition.

"With these arrangements, we have had doctors in the training room, for physicals, on call, and also providing internships so that students could shadow doctors for a semester," Broos says. "Guilford is unique in having a real personal relationship between the students and the doctors; they get to know one another."

Chris Rose '92, a physician’s assistant in Overland Park, Kan., and former assistant trainer, says the secret to Broos's success is her genuine nature and her creativity in providing opportunities for students.

"There is no façade. You can take her at face value," he says. "That, coupled with her being sharp and having an ability to interact with the students. And she did more with a tenth of the resources than most schools would do. She had the resources to get you where you wanted to be."

Broos is well recognized as a pioneer in her field: she was the first woman to head a college athletic training program with football in North Carolina. And she modeled the profession for other young women who entered athletic training.

One was Kris Foster Saums '91, who earned a master's degree at UNC Chapel Hill and directed the sports medicine program at UNC Wilmington before entering pharmaceutical sales.

"When the time came for me to become an athletic trainer, I remembered all the things Mary had taught me—not just about athletic training, but about getting the best out of students and student-athletes," Saums says. "To this day, I try to emulate Mary in so much of what I do, whether it is at work or home. She is the best role model a young woman could ask for, and she continues to be a role model for me today."

Broos's commitments to students extended beyond Guilford to her work with the Davidson County School Board. She served 12 years, including the last four as chair. "I really wanted to make education good for all kids, especially those who did not have support at home. It was lots of work and some painful decisions; my gray hairs did not come from Guilford or my children, but from the school board."

Looking back, Broos appreciates the college allowing her to take time to serve on the school board and to follow the high school cross country exploits of sons Brian and Brad '98. "President (William) Rogers and Herb Appenzeller understood the importance of family to me and we arranged to have a certified trainer cover for me when needed, especially when state meets were on Saturdays."

Broos is sentimental but steady in sharing her experiences during an interview in her office in Alumni Gym. When she mentions her husband, Jim, her emotions come to the surface.

"I've been married for 40 years to the best father I know," she says. "Had he not been, I would not have done this. Many nights he gave the baths and read the stories while I was in the emergency room with an athlete. He understood I loved it, and it was my passion. He wanted it for me."

Succeeding Broos is Kirsten Schrader, who was head trainer at Pfeiffer University and Queens University of Charlotte before leaving the state when her husband got a job opportunity in Texas. They returned about a year later, and she came to Guilford as a part-time assistant trainer before being elevated to the head trainer position last spring.

"I have big shoes to fill. Mary ran the program for 30 years successfully and built an enormous amount of medical support with our physicians—all because of her hard work," Schrader says, adding with a smile, "The one thing I can't do is keep the training room full of cookies. I have to buy them and they’re not nearly as good as her homemade snickerdoodles."

A woman who counts her blessings, Broos is thankful that none of her athletes ever suffered a catastrophic injury. But above all, she says, "I'm proudest of the teaching and mentoring I've been able to do with the students in the training room and in the classroom. I didn't just train or teach; I got to watch them learn. It's so rewarding to see them succeed."

Schaefer, who along with his wife, Emily '92, were among those paying tribute to Broos at her retirement celebration in May, says, "When you go through life, there are about three people you can peg, other than your parents, who if not for them you would not be who or where you are. Mary is one of those people for me."

On Jan. 31, Guilford will dedicate the court in Ragan-Brown Field House to Jack Jensen, who coached men's basketball for 29 seasons and guided the 1972-73 team to the NAIA national title. The event will be in conjunction with the Quakers' 3 p.m. game with Randolph-Macon. More details will be available at www.guilford.edu.