Ernest Eugene, Ed D, MS, ATC, PES, CES

Orlando, FL

Ernest Eugene is the head athletic trainer for the Orlando Magic, a position he has held since 2018. Prior to joining the Magic, he served as assistant athletics director for sports medicine at Virginia Tech for four seasons (2014-2018). Before his time at Virginia Tech, Eugene was the athletic trainer for the men's basketball program at Marquette University for six seasons (2008-2014), where he was eventually promoted to director of sports medicine. He also spent five seasons (2003-2008) as assistant athletic trainer with the Washington Wizards, and completed a seasonal internship as an athletic trainer with the Washington Redskins in 2003.

A native of Washington, D.C., Eugene holds a doctorate degree (Ed.D.) from East Tennessee State University and a master's degree in allied health management from The Ohio State University, where he also worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer (2001-2003). He is certified as an athletic trainer (ATC), Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES), Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES), and in Graston Techniques. He also holds a Sports Manual Therapy Certification (SMTC) from the Institute of Athlete Regeneration, and a certification in Personalized Blood Flow Restriction Rehabilitation from Owens Recovery Science.

Eugene is an active member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), the National Basketball Athletic Trainers' Association (NBATA), where he currently serves on the Executive Committee as the Eastern Conference representative, and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). He is also a board member with the Council on Revenue (COR) of the NATA, and one of 32 collegiate athletic trainers appointed to the Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine in 2017. In 2019, he served as athletic trainer at the NBA's Basketball Without Borders camp in Medellin, Colombia.

Eugene graduated from George Washington University in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and a concentration in athletic training. He is married to Jackie and has three children: Jayden (13), Mason (9), and Harper (7).