NATA Presidents
Mark Smaha
1988 - 1992
Mark J. Smaha, born and raised on an Iowa farm, began his athletic training career at Iowa State University in 1967. He received his B. S. degree in 1970 and attended Marshall University in West Virginia. He was an assistant athletic trainer and assumed the duties of head athletic trainer in 1970 following the Marshall air tragedy that killed 75 people including the football team, athletic personnel, and boosters. In 1972 he received his M.S. degree and moved to the University of Washington where he was a member of a research team studying athletic injuries at the high school level. He worked at the University of Washington and Interlake High School as a teacher/athletic trainer where he also co-authored a book on athletic training. In 1975 he became the head athletic trainer at the University of Idaho. He later became the head athletic trainer at Washington State University. IN 1979 he began his career as an officer in the NATA as Secretary-Treasurer of District 10 (NWATA). He became the Director/President of NWATA in 1982 and a member of the NATA Board of Directors. In 1986 he was elected Vice-President of the NATA. In 1988 he was elected President of the NATA serving until 1992. Mr. Smaha received the three Presidents Commendations for Life Saving Emergencies and was nominated for the NCAA Award of Valor in 1982. In 1994 he received the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. Smaha serves as a consultant for Tinactin and has authored several home pages for their website. Mark was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1997.