NATCHITOCHES – Jason Drury, a member of the Northwestern State sports medicine staff for the last seven years and the head athletic trainer for football during the past three seasons, will succeed retiring Ed Evans as the head athletic trainer at NSU.
 
Director of athletics Greg Burke made the announcement of Drury's promotion, which is subject to the approval of the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System, which includes Northwestern.
 
"Based on his experience as a member of the NSU training staff for the past several years, Jason will provide a seamless transition in our sports medicine operation during a time when there have never been more issues and hot topics related to the welfare and care of intercollegiate student-athletes,” said Burke.  “I look forward to working with him to ensure that our sports medicine program continues to take a proactive approach in addressing issues and in placing the care of our student-athletes as the highest priority."
 
Assistant athletic trainer on the NSU staff since 2004, Drury has also been the lead athletic trainer for men's basketball, softball and women's soccer while working with all 14 of NSU's Division I sports. Prior to joining the Demons, he spent five years as head athletic trainer at Natchitoches Central High School.
 
A 1999 graduate of Idaho State with a biology degree, Drury worked with numerous ISU sports including football, basketball and track and field. He earned his master's degree from Northwestern State in 2001. His appointment is on an interim basis for the time being.
 
“Jason has been great to work with and he's handled a very demanding job like a champion,” said Demons football coach Bradley Dale Peveto. “When we heard that Ed Evans was retiring, there was really no doubt among our coaching staff that Jason would be tapped to replace him. It's something he's earned and a great move for our entire athletic department.”
 
Drury, a native of Paoli, Ind., is active with the National Athletic Trainers Association and the Louisiana Athletic Trainers Association. He and his wife of nine years, Toni, have two children, Maddox and Kenzie.