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As we're always looking out for great stories about Athletic Trainers, we had to share an article on the history and evolution of the athletic training program at Newnan High School over the past fifty years in Newnan, Georgia.
The program was established in 1974 by Harry Mullins and continued under James "Radar" Brantley. The newly built Mullins-Brantley Athletic Training Facility now stands in their honor.
One of the most captivating aspects of this story unfolded in the relationship between Mullins and Coach Max Bass.
Harry Mullins began the program after being recruited by coach Bass, even though the school did not have the best facility. Mullins' commitment to helping the students and community led him to choose Newnan over other opportunities.
However, describing their long-term relationship as anything less than a rollercoaster ride would be an understatement. You can read the full article here, but we had to share this part — because it may ring true for so many Athletic Trainers when dealing with coaches:
"Mullins never gave Bass a chance to fire him - he quit.
In his first year, during the first week of school, Mullins was treating football players at 7 a.m., then driving to his "day job" teaching PE at Ruth Hill Elementary School.
He'd leave a list of player injuries and limitations, which Mullins said irritated Bass, and the coach called Ruth Hill to give the trainer an earful about a player Mullins put on the no-practice, no-contact list.
'I told him the kid was not going to practice or play, and he said he was,'' Mullins said. 'I said the kid was out of the game, and that's the end of the discussion. He said, 'Well, you know what that means then, don't you?' and I said, 'Yeah — I quit.'
A short time later, Mullins was outside with his class when one of his students said, "Mr. Mullins, here comes Coach Bass:'
Bass had driven his truck up the parking lot and across the tennis court and stopped when Mullins approached him. He walked up beside Mullins and said, 'It will never happen again.
Mullins told him he'd used up his one chance, and that it better not.
'He said, 'That's good. Let's go back to work,'' Mullins said. 'And that was the end of the discussion. It never did happen again. We would stay after practice and we would argue, fuss and fight. And then we would leave and go to his cabin and have a beer and just be good friends. He was brilliant.''
The article goes on to talk about James "Radar" Brantley, who joined in 1981 and played a key role in the program's success. His nickname originated from his resourcefulness in fulfilling coaches' requests, similar to the character Radar from the TV show MASH.
The relationship between Mullins and Bass was marked by challenges and camaraderie. Bass once fired Mullins, but they maintained a close friendship. Brantley also faced challenges but became a respected figure, earning accolades and nicknames from his dedication.
The program's growth was driven by community support, with donations and contributions from local businesses. The involvement of student trainers, a practice initiated by Brantley, further expanded the program.
The culmination of their efforts is the new training facility named in their honor, which was unveiled during an open house attended by those influenced by Mullins and Brantley.
Read the article!
