Eddy McGuire shares his career in athletic training

Athletic trainers can be the glue that keeps championship teams together. They pride themselves on keeping athletes healthy, successful, and able to perform at their best. Head athletic trainer, Eddy McGuire, has 31 athletic championships under his belt at Tyler Junior College.

McGuire is entering his 21st season as an athletic trainer at TJC. In 2023, he was named National Junior College Athletic Trainer of the Year. His passion for athletic training began around his junior year of high school. 

“I always enjoyed sports and loved being around it and realized that I was not a college athlete. And there’s no way that I could continue doing that. So, I wanted to try to find something to keep me close to athletics and went and talked to the folks over at A&M and got involved in the athletic training program,” McGuire said. 

McGuire attended Texas A&M University for his bachelor’s degree and went on to get his master’s from Stephen F. Austin State University. Athletic training is not for the weak. They are always “at the mercy of somebody else,” McGuire said. 

It is common for them to be at a 5 a.m. practice during the week, travel on the road with teams during the weekend, and show up for any last-second practices that can be called. There are days when they have multiple games to attend, while still managing rehab assignments.

“There is no such thing as a typical day,” McGuire said.

 TJC has 12 sports, as well as dance and cheer, with different seasons for each one. There is no off-season for athletic trainers; they are always needed 12 months out of the year. McGuire is thankful for the relationship that former TJC athletic director, the late Kevin Vest has built with CHRISTUS Health. The orthopedic team at CHRISTUS Health supplies TJC with three athletic trainers. TJC currently has two athletic trainers on staff with one position to fill.

While being pulled in multiple directions and stretched thin, McGuire knows the impact he can have on an athlete. From turf burns to broken bones, there is no injury that does not get professional care. In his time here, McGuire  has seen a multitude of severe injuries, but “seeing a kid that comes in here can barely walk, then turn around and play at their highest level,” McGuire said is the most rewarding part of the job. 

McGuire has been able to work with some student-athletes who went on to become notable names. NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler, and country musician Shane Smith of Shane Smith and the Saints were both former TJC athletes. Dr. Jon-Michael Cline of Azalea Orthopedics in Tyler was also a TJC athlete who went on to play baseball at Texas A&M.

McGuire said one of his most memorable encounters was with a student that came in saying “I never thought I’d run again,” and then seeing him achieve a full recovery. Although athletic trainers play the sideline and are not on the field making highlight reels, they may have the biggest role of all. 

Students interested in pursuing a career in athletic training should reach out to McGuire at [email protected].