BABSON PARK, Mass.—Following a career that spanned nearly five decades, Babson College Director of Athletics Performance and Athletics Health Care Administrator Rick Burr P'21 P'23 P'25 announced his retirement earlier this summer.
 
Burr, who spent 23 years at Babson, was originally hired as the director of sports medicine in 2003 before being promoted to the director of athletics performance in 2015 and adding the title of athletics health care administrator in 2017. While overseeing 23 varsity programs and more than 400 student-athletes each year, he was responsible for managing the sports medicine and sports performance program, and advancing student-athlete well-being, injury prevention and rehabilitation.
 
As the Babson Athletic Health Care Administrator, Burr was able to shape a comprehensive and collaborative approach to student-athlete care. He fostered partnerships between sports medicine, sports performance, team physicians and Babson Health and Wellness that emphasized communication, safety and ensured that student-athletes received thoughtful, consistent and evidence-based medical care.
 
A highly respected leader at the state and national levels, Burr made significant contributions through his extensive service within the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), NCAA working groups, and the Massachusetts Board of Allied Health, where he served as vice chair. He was inducted into the Connecticut Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Athletics Trainers of Massachusetts Hall of Fame in 2017, and was selected as the Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2006.
 
Burr played a key role in developing COVID-19 return-to-sport protocols in the fall of 2020 that were adopted across collegiate athletics and helped the Babson men's ice hockey and men's and women's basketball programs become some of the first Division III programs in the northeast to return to competition in February 2021. Additionally, Burr was a driving force behind regional and national initiatives that helped impact the profession regarding the recruitment and retention of athletic trainers.
 
"I want to thank Rick for his outstanding service and unwavering dedication to our student-athletes over many years at Babson," commented Pamela P. and Brian M. Barefoot Associate Vice President for Athletics and Athletics Advancement Mike Lynch. "Rick has quite literally devoted the vast majority of his professional life to ensuring that nothing stands in the way of student-athlete health, safety and well-being. No matter the challenge, he has consistently risen to the moment making difficult decisions. His work has created a lasting and meaningful impact on the experience of generations of Babson student-athletes. We'll miss his leadership and expertise, but are thankful for all he has given to our department and excited for this new chapter for him and his family."
 
Prior to coming to Babson, Burr spent 17 years at Brandeis University as the assistant director of athletics for sports medicine services. His time at Brandeis followed a five-year stint at The Taft School in Watertown, Conn., where he was the head athletic trainer along with serving as a dorm parent and a member of the school's athletic committee from 1981-86.
 
Burr's reach extends beyond collegiate athletics as he served as an athletic trainer for the Boston Celtics from 1992-99, was the assistant medical coordinator for athletic trainers at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, and more recently has worked for the NFL as a concussion spotter. He also has held various roles as an athletic trainer for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), which includes the 2001 Olympic Trials for gymnastics and the 2014 and 2016 U.S Figure Skating Championships. Additionally, Burr served as the assistant medical director for the 100th running of the Boston Marathon in 1996.
 
"Since arriving in 2003, I have been incredibly fortunate to work alongside inspiring colleagues, dedicated coaches, and most importantly remarkable student-athletes," said Burr. "What makes my connection to Babson truly unique is how deeply it is woven into my family's life. I am immensely proud that all three of my children graduated from Babson. Watching them grow as students and young adults within the same community that shaped my own career has been one of the great privileges of my life.
 
"I leave Babson with great pride in the areas where I believe we made a meaningful and lasting impact. Babson entrusted me with great responsibility, supported my professional growth, and allowed me to do work I care deeply about. For that, I will always be thankful."
 
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WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT RICK:
 
"Rick has been a constant and incredibly valuable piece of Babson hockey and all of athletics since his arrival in 2003. Rick's professionalism, talents as an athletic trainer, genuine care for our players, dedication to everyone in their injuries, rehabilitation, arranging of orthopedic visits, scheduling of MRIs, and eventually returning to play was beyond measure. He was always much more than "Dr. Burr" though.  In our 22 seasons together, I have witnessed him repair the broken catching glove of Zeke Testa '13 before the ECAC East Championship game with skate lace and tape , make thousands of gallons of Gatorade, help shovel out a stuck bus, and many more activities that were not in his official title.
 
"What truly stands out the most though is the countless hours spent in the fall of 2020 navigating and testing our entire campus, our student-athletes, and staff through the COVID-19 return to play.  For 20 straight days in December of 2020, Rick collaborated nightly with me and seven other hockey coaches to create a way for us to safely play games in early 2021. Babson was the first eastern DIII team to play a college hockey game, and it would not have been possible without Rick!
 
"Rick is a professional, a multi Hall of Famer, a parent to three Babson alums, a confidant, and most of all a friend.  Our program will miss the big and little things he did every day with a smile for us.  The success of our program over the last 23 years would not have been possible without Rick, and the growth and accomplishments of all of Babson Athletics and its student-athletes is tied to the development of the sports medicine and sports performance piece of our department under Rick's leadership."
-Jamie Rice '90, Babson Boxer-Rice Head Men's Ice Hockey Coach

"Rick has been a friend and a colleague for the past 30 plus years both in his time at Babson and at Brandeis. Babson is losing a tremendous athletic trainer, and the NEWMAC is losing one of its leaders. Rick worked tirelessly to do what was best for his student-athletes and his involvement on a number of national -committees was a benefit to everyone in our conference. I will miss our frequent phone calls to bounce ideas off each other, but wish him all the best in retirement." 
-Greg Steele, Wheaton College Head Athletic Trainer

After a 24-year career as Babson's first certified athletic trainer, I knew it was time to take a different career direction. Prior to my departure, my primary mission was to find Babson's second athletic trainer and fortunately I did not have to look very far. For years, I knew that Brandeis' head athletic trainer would be the perfect individual to step into this role. The director of sports medicine requires foresight and understanding of what all student-athletes and coaches need to maintain a high level of safety and health care. Fortunately, Babson leadership allowed me to make this decision, as Rick was my first, second and third choice.  
 
I knew that Rick could improve our sports medicine program to levels that I never achieved. His medical knowledge and ability to improve medical systems and a campus wide coordination of our students' health care went well beyond my expectations. Rick has and will always be a well-respected health care professional. I could not be more proud of his achievements at Babson and whatever his next journey may bring."
-Chris "Doc" Troyanos, Sports Medicine Consultants; Babson Director of Sports Medicine (1979-2003)