If you ask Athletic Trainer Brad Strauss what yearbook superlative he thinks he would get, he’s confident it would be “Most Sarcastic.” But, admittedly, he’s working on it. His colleagues, however, paint a different picture.

For Brad, whom everyone calls Strauss, they suggest “Most Dependable,” “Most Likely to Lend a Helping Hand” or “Most Kind.”

And that’s the way Strauss has operated at the Academy for 24 years. He doesn’t collect the trophies that line Hardwick Hall. His name isn’t on the championship banners or records that hang from the walls, but his presence and his care is felt everywhere you look. For this issue of “Outside the Classroom,” we sat down with Strauss, in his athletic training room that has seen countless Bucs on the road to recovery, to learn a little more about the person behind the safety of our student-athletes.

How did you become interested in athletic training?

A: My junior year of high school at Peddie, I got injured and I saw the athletic trainer, and working with her and doing my rehab, I became interested in the whole process. Then my senior year, I worked as a student aide in Peddie’s athletic training room.

What sports did you play growing up?

A: I played soccer and baseball. I was never the top athlete….I was okay, but I didn’t have aspirations of playing in college. I tried club soccer at the University of Miami, but my previous injury set me on the path toward athletic training. And, somehow, I managed to rope my sister into following in my footsteps. She is an athletic trainer as well, and my brother is a doctor, so helping people runs in the family.

Did attending the University of Miami during the height of their football program’s success have any impact on your career path?

A: I was at Miami when we won a national title, and two of the players I worked with are in the NFL Hall of Fame now—Warren Sapp and Ray Lewis. One of my classmates and another football player I worked with was Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. I got to see some really special things, and back then, Miami was seen as the professional team in the area. The Dolphins were there, but we were a bigger deal. Not only did I work with the Hurricanes, but I also worked with the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) at the Lipton Championships for two years, which is now called the Miami Open. It all taught me how to work with elite athletes, and we have a number of them here at Blair.

What’s your role as Blair’s athletic trainer?

A: My number one goal is athlete safety, preparing them to compete in a safe manner. Part of my job is to go out and check the fields, to make sure there are no hazards there. I’ve never won a prize or championship. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great when we win. But, to me, the real reward is seeing the athletes out there, healthy and competing at their highest level.

What do you enjoy most about working at Blair?

A: Working with the student-athletes is where I get the most joy. It’s all about seeing a kid go from playing, to working with an injury, to getting back to their full ability and restoring what they’ve lost through the injury. A good number of athletes come through my door. I see 30 to 40 students a day, and a lot just for rehab—taping or small adjustments— but some of them are just new injuries that need to be evaluated and taken care of.

What is the number one piece of advice you give athletes to prevent injury?

A: Number one is listen to your athletic trainer. Follow our advice. But also, don’t wait with an injury. It’s a lot easier to treat a small injury, rather than sitting on it until it’s something bigger. If you take a month with an injury, it’s not going to get fixed in a day. Finally, don’t rely solely on the Internet for your answers! WebMD is not your friend.

I really want students to know they shouldn’t be afraid to come see us. Our job is not to keep players out—our job is to return players safely. If you don’t need to sit out, we’re not going to make you. That’s one of the toughest things for new students to understand. My intention is always safety first and returning them when it’s safe for them and not earlier.

How has your family influenced your approach to your work and how you support student-athletes?

A: Well, my work ethic comes from my mom and dad, who always taught us to go above and beyond. So I stay late when I have to, I come in early when I need to. I help out with everything else in the athletics department—whatever is needed. I learned early to pitch in, and if something needs to be done, don’t wait for the ask.

Do you feel the same familial ties here in the athletic department? I know former football coach Jim Saylor brought the motto “Ohana” to the football team during his prime.

A: There’s definitely a strong sense of family. “Ohana” is not just for football; the whole Blair community has become like a family. And you love your family. You are always there to support them.

As a Peddie alum, who do you root for on Peddie Day?

A: I was at Peddie for four years. I have an older brother who went there for five years and a younger sister who graduated after I left. My parents live three miles from Peddie. We do have strong ties there, but I’ve been here for 24 years, so time is on our side.

What does it mean for you to hear from the former studentathletes you worked with in the past?

A: It’s great to hear from my athletes, interns and some of my past students who’ve gone into athletic training. Just recently, Moussa Kane ’23 came back to visit from Duke, and he brought me a signed jersey. I love to hear how their seasons are going, and I’ll text them periodically to see how they’re doing—not only athletics, but how their academics are going and their overall well-being.

Outside of sports, what are some of your hobbies?

A: I like reading just to get out of my own head. I enjoy playing golf and the occasional fishing trip. I love traveling, and I take every opportunity to spend time with my friends and family. Every Thanksgiving, my family and I go to Saint Martin, and I’ve traveled with some Blair friends and former teachers. I’ll head down to South Carolina to visit Jim Saylor and his son, Tyler ’14, who’s now an athletic trainer at Carolina Forest High School in South Carolina.

If you could only watch one sport for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A: That’s difficult to say….There are times when I love specific sports, but at times, it’s almost impossible, because each one brings something different to the table when you’re watching it. With wrestling, you watch the methodical way people work to get their opponents in their positions. Then you have soccer and football, where there is the excitement of the goals and watching the defense and how it all comes together. I even like curling! It’s a little mind-numbing, but it’s fun to see the strategies. I don’t think there’s a specific sport that I can sit there and watch forever.

If you could put one totally ridiculous sport into the Olympics, what would it be?

A: Well, sometimes I’ll watch The Ocho on ESPN, and they have slippery stairs. That could be an interesting one to put in the Olympics. There’s really not much skill, just a bit of luck that you are able to get through the oily stairs quicker than anybody else while people are pelting you with things.

Looking back on your time at Blair, what stands out to you the most?

A: Working with teenage athletes is one of the best things that I’ve been able to do. They’re energetic and mostly positive, but so many sometimes think they’re invincible. So that’s when they get to see me. I’ve enjoyed all the years I’ve worked here: the students, the athletes and the coaches.

As proud as I am of the achievements of my past and future athletes, which include professional, Olympic and collegiate levels, I am most proud of the students whom I have inspired and mentored into the field of athletic training. That includes Blair’s own assistant athletic trainer Genie Lavanant ’13, Haven Donovan ’13, Tyler Saylor ’14 and several interns we’ve had over the years from East Stroudsburg University. It’s been a fun experience.