Jan 29, 2015

Former A&M Head ATC Files Suit

Former Texas A&M University Head Athletic Trainer and Associate Athletic Director Karl Kapchinski, who had been with the school since 1979, was abruptly fired in November of 2013. While Kapchinski, who was 56 at the time of the firing, claims his termination was age discrimination, the school says it was based on his job performance.
According to an article in The Eagle, Kapchinski, who was the NATA’s Division 1 College Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2005:

• Had received positive job reviews in May of 2012 and June of 2013, being listed as “exemplary” and “exceeds expectations.”
• However, between July and September of 2014, had been in several meetings where he’d been asked to meet with all head coaches before their season started, be available to all teams, and stop attending football practice each day.
• Would not be available for rehire at the school for five years, which his attorney claims violates university policy.

“This guy is literally in the athletic trainers’ hall of fame,” Kapchinski’s lawyer J. Davis Watson said in a statement. “Eric Hyman fires him suddenly and without any specific reason given. Then they blacklisted Karl from working anywhere else at the university. It’s just bizarre, but we are going to get to the bottom of it.”

“I love Texas A&M University with all my heart,” Kapchinski, who is now an athletic trainer at Houston Methodist in Sugar Land, said in a statement. “I grew up here, I earned my degree here, and I am a letterman here. I was then blessed to work for this great university for 31 years. I look forward to finding out why Eric Hyman took this action against me.”

Read the full article here.