Florida Tech Announces Hiring of Luis Velez as the New Head Athletic Trainer for Panther Sports

Velez served as Athletic Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Assistant at Lenoir-Rhyne University

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Florida Tech Interim Athletic Director Pete Mazzone announced that Luis Velez has been hired as the new Head Athletic Trainer for Panther Athletics.

Velez comes to Tech after serving as Athletic Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Assistant at Lenoir-Rhyne University. This will be Velez’ second stint with Florida Tech Athletics.

“We are excited to have Luis back at Florida Tech,” said Mazzone.

“We are well aware of his dedication and loyalty to his profession and the athletes he serves. Michael Flicker, the Head Athletic Trainer at Lenoir-Rhyne, spoke very highly of Luis and the great skills and qualities he portrayed during his time with their athletic department.

“Luis has kept in close contact with several of our long-time coaches and staff over the years and I know he has always had a special place in his heart for Florida Tech. We are happy to welcome him back.”

Velez served as Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Panthers from 2003-05 before heading to Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory, North Carolina.

“I am excited to return to Florida Tech, where I started my career, to work with the administration, coaches, and fellow athletic trainers to continue to provide a safe and healthy experience for the student-athletes,” said Velez.

“I have always been fond of Florida Tech since my previous stint as Assistant Athletic Trainer and look forward to the opportunity in front of me. I want to thank Pete Mazzone for bringing me back to work with the Panthers.”

Velez was an athletic trainer, preceptor and adjunct instructor for Lenoir-Rhyne since the beginning of the 2005-06 academic year and also served as the Bears’ first-ever Director of Strength & Conditioning for three years.

As athletic trainer, Velez worked with numerous sports at Lenoir-Rhyne, including men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, and volleyball.

His strength and conditioning duties began in 2015 with the Bears men’s basketball team and his influence helped guide the squad to the team’s first-ever NCAA Division II berth in the regional finals.

In 2019-20, Velez served as strength and conditioning coach for men’s soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s swimming, and men’s and women’s golf.

Additionally, Velez was an instructor and preceptor for Lenoir-Rhyne’s School of Health, Exercise Science and Sport Science. He taught courses including First Aid and Emergency Care, Concepts of Healthful Living,

Athletic Speed and Conditioning, High Intensity Interval Training, Assessment and Management and the Lower Extremity Lab, and Therapeutic Modalities Lab.

Velez also served as preceptor for undergraduate exercise science students and graduate students in the Lenoir-Rhyne Athletic Training Education Program.

Prior to his initial stint at Florida Tech, Luis received a Master of Arts in Health and Exercise Science from Furman University in May of 2003.

At Furman, Velez served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer from 2001-03 and worked with the baseball, volleyball, women’s basketball, and men’s and women’s tennis teams. Luis also worked Doug Allison’s Soccer Academy at Furman every summer since 2003.

Additionally, Velez directed a Speed and Conditioning Academy at Lenoir-Rhyne every summer (velezercise.com) and worked with Catawba Valley Youth Soccer Association, local school teams, and individual athletes on speed and agility training.

Velez is a Certified and Licensed Athletic Trainer, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach, Certified USA Weightlifting Level 1 Sports Performance Coach, and Certified Sportmetrics Instructor.

Velez is also an American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor Trainer. Luis is a member of National Athletic Trainers’ Association and National Strength and Conditioning Association.

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