Aug. 8, 2006

Johnson C. Smith University Director of Athletics, Steve Joyner, has announced that Layla McCall has been named the new Head Athletic Trainer in the Department of Athletics. McCall replaces former Head Trainer Sean Thomas who resigned at the conclusion of the 2005-2006 academic year to take a similar position at North Carolina Central University. McCall, who had been the Head Athletic Trainer at Fort Valley State University since the fall of 2004, is a 2000 graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Physical Therapy. Following graduation, she worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at FAMU. In the fall of 2001, McCall began her graduate work at the University of Georgia while taking on a Graduate Assistant position in the athletic training operation of the athletics department, working exclusively with football. She was the first female to be given such an opportunity in the Bulldog athletics department. She earned her Masters Degree in Exercise Science from UGA in 2003 and immediately earned an internship with the National Football League's Pittsburg Steelers.

Upon completion of the internship, McCall began work as a Clinical and Outreach Athletic Trainer with HEALTHSOUTH Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center in Birmingham, AL from October 2003 - July 2004.

Joyner, commenting on the appointment, stated, "Layla will continue to provide our student-athletes and student athletic trainers with quality health care to which they have grown accustomed at JCSU." Layla began work officially on Monday, August 7, 2006.