Eric McDonnell is in his 39th year with Mizzou Athletics.
During his tenure with the University of Missouri Sports Medicine staff, he has cared for student-athletes in Mizzou’s football, women’s basketball, volleyball, men's and women’s golf and tennis programs.
In recognition of his significant contributions to the profession of athletic training, McDonnell was inducted into the National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in 2016, and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.
McDonnell is certified by the NATA and licensed as an Athletic Trainer by the Board of Healing Arts in the state of Missouri. After serving 19 years as the primary assistant for Mizzou’s football program, McDonnell followed with 11 years as part of the women's basketball program and nine years with the two-time Southeastern Conference Champion Volleyball team.
Currently, McDonnell works with the women’s tennis and golf teams. In addition to his team sport assignments, McDonnell has taught a variety of undergraduate athletic training courses and serves as the CPR/AED instructor for all Athletics Department staff. McDonnell coordinated medical coverage of the Show-Me State Games from their inception through the 2000 games.
In addition, McDonnell has served in numerous leadership roles for the governing organizations of the profession of athletic training, including Missouri Athletic Trainers Association President (1997-99), Mid-America Athletic Trainers Association President (2006-11), and National Athletic Trainers Association Board of Directors (2011-15). Currently, he serves on the NATA Foundation Board of Directors, as a member of the NATA Professional Responsibility Committee, and as an Editorial Advisor for the NATA News magazine.
Chairing the Missouri ATA organization's Governmental Affairs Committee from 2000 through 2008, McDonnell worked tirelessly to convert the state practice act from registration to licensure. Advancing from the state ranks to the national level, McDonnell served as the National Athletic Trainers Association Governmental Affairs Committee Chair beginning in 2006 where he continued to advocate for effective regulatory oversight through new state practice acts in 21 states, for an ultimate total of 49 states by 2011.
During his career, McDonnell has received many awards and professional recognitions. Prior to his induction into the National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame, he was inducted in the Mid America Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame in 2013, and the Missouri Athletic Trainers Association Sports Medicine Hall of Fame in 2003. He was awarded Missouri Athletic Trainer’s Association’s Glenn L. McElroy, MD, Distinguished Service Award (named for Mizzou's longtime team physician), as well as the 2007 Missouri Athletic Trainer’s Association Athletic Trainer of the Year award. He was a NATA Service Award Winner in 2002 and a recipient of the NATA’s Most Distinguished Athletic Trainers Award in 2011.
McDonnell, a native of Platte City, Missouri, was a student athletic trainer at Platte County R-III High School. He holds two degrees from the University of Missouri: a bachelor's degree in secondary education (health and physical education) and a master's degree in educational administration.
He is married to the former Sabrina Batterton of Auxvasse, Missouri. They are the parents of a daughter, Madison (25) and a son, Grant (20).
In addition to his professional accomplishments in Athletic Training, McDonnell has received training through MU's Law Enforcement Training Institute (LETI) and has served as a 40 year commissioned reserve police officer for the Weatherby Lake Missouri Police Department, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. At home in Columbia, McDonnell is a member of Broadway Christian Church and an Assistant Scoutmaster for BSA Troop 706.
