Athletic Training | 8/27/2023 5:00:00 PM

MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—Barry University assistant athletic director for sports medicine Matt Santos-Vitorino and athletic trainer George Fernandez are leaving the Bucs to go to FIU to work with the Panthers, Director of Athletics Dr. Scott Smith announced today.

Santos-Vitorino, the 2022 state of Florida College/University Athletic Trainer of the Year, joined the staff in 2016 as assistant athletic trainer, was promoted to head athletic trainer in 2019 and assistant AD for sports medicine in 2022. He got his master's degree as a graduate assistant athletic trainer while at Barry from 2008-10.  Including his time as the graduate assistant, he has worked with 11 teams who have won NCAA Division II National Championships and 20 Sunshine State Conference titles. Santos-Vitorino received his undergraduate degree in athletic training form Lasell University in 2008.

He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association as well as being a certified professional rescuer by the American Red Cross. He serves on the National Athletic Training Association (NATA) – Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine (ICSM) as the Division II Region 2 Representative. Additionally, he also serves, at the state level, as a member for the Athletic Trainers Association of Florida (ATAF): College & Universities Athletic Trainer Committee. He is also a member of the ATAF Honors & Awards Committee.

Fernandez joined the staff as an athletic trainer in the fall of 2020 after serving on the athletic training staff at nearby St. Thomas from 2011-2020. At Barry he has worked primarily with the basketball and tennis teams.

Barry will begin an immediate search for their replacements.