Steve Plourde joined SMU’s Sports Medicine Staff in February of 2023 and serves as the Head Football Athletic Trainer for the Mustangs. In this role, he will lead all aspects of sports medicine efforts for the football team, including year-round preventative care, immediate care for injured student-athletes and reconditioning of injured student-athletes. He is very familiar with SMU, having served as an Assistant Athletic Trainer from 2017-2021, assisting with football and overseeing the healthcare for men’s golf.
Prior to returning to SMU, Plourde was the Head Football Athletic Trainer for The University of New Mexico. While at UNM, Plourde was responsible for the healthcare of the Lobo football team, including prevention and treatment of injuries and working with the UNM sports medicine team on prevention, diagnosis, and best practices.
Prior to Plourde’s first stint at SMU, he spent two years as an intern athletic trainer for the Oakland Raiders from 2015-2017. He received his bachelor’s degree in athletic training from the University of Nebraska in 2013. He also earned his master’s degree in sports administration from the University of New Mexico in 2015, while serving as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for the football team. He also assisted with UNM golf, skiing, baseball, men’s basketball and track and field.
Plourde holds two certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a corrective exercise specialist and performance enhancement specialist. He holds a certification in applied functional science from the Gray Institute. He has an advanced certification for dry needling for orthopedic rehabilitation and sport performance. He also holds certifications in CPR and AED from the American Red Cross.
He and his wife, Amanda, have four daughters and one dog.
