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Justin Hargrove, Athletic Trainer and Director of Human Performance at Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC), was inducted into the East Texas Athletic Trainers Association (ETATA) Hall of Honor on June 2, 2025.
The ceremony took place during the ETATA Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament at Tempest Golf Club in Gladewater, Texas.
Hargrove was one of four Athletic Trainers and two physicians honored this year, joining Stephanie Elliott and Dr. Randy Williams at the event. Also inducted but unable to attend were Randy Nolen, Dr. Andrew Cage, and Dr. Allison Tobola.
“I am greatly humbled and honored to be a part of such a great group of Athletic Trainers here in East Texas,” Hargrove said. “To be honored alongside mentors I still seek advice from is something I never imagined would happen.”
A Mount Pleasant native, Hargrove has shaped athletic training in East Texas for decades, with experience ranging from internships with the Eagles, Cowboys, and Jets to revitalizing NTCC’s sports medicine program.
Since arriving at NTCC in 2017, he has built both the Human Performance and Athletic Training programs from scratch. He now serves as Assistant Athletic Director, overseeing game-day operations, compliance, and public relations.
Beyond campus, Hargrove volunteers as a firefighter and remains active in rodeo sports medicine and professional organizations like SWATA and NATA. Reflecting on his journey, he credited early mentors and NFL connections, added:
“While most think of pro sports as the pinnacle, helping athletes at other levels with fewer resources has been even more rewarding.”
Hargrove’s induction into the Hall of Honor recognizes not just a career of service, but a lifetime of impact on the field, in the classroom, and throughout East Texas. Full report here!
