William E. Prentice , PhD, PT, ATC, FNATA is recognized as an author, educator, and clinician. He received both BS and MS degrees from the University of Delaware, a PhD degree in sports medicine and applied physiology from the University of Virginia, and a BSPT degree in physical therapy from the University of North Carolina. He is a Professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science and has served as the Program Director of the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Accredited Post-Professional Athletic Training Education Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill since 1980. He started his career as an Assistant Athletic Trainer at Temple University prior to beginning his PhD at Virginia. He also served for 10 years as the Director of Sports Medicine Education for the Healthsouth Corporation. Dr. Prentice is the author of 54 editions of 10 different textbooks, most notably Principles of Athletic Training , Essentials of Athletic Injury Management , Athletic Training: An Introduction to Professional Practice , The Role of the Athletic Trainer in Sports Medicine: An Introduction for the Secondary School Student , Therapeutic Modalities in Sports Medicine and Athletic Training , Rehabilitation Techniques for Sports Medicine and Athletic Training , Therapeutic Modalities for Physical Therapists , Musculoskeletal Intervention: Techniques for Therapeutic Exercise , and Get Fit, Stay Fit .
He has published more than 100 journal articles and abstracts, and has made more than 220 lectures and presentations. Dr. Prentice served as the athletic trainer for the Women's Soccer Program at the University of North Carolina for 26 years since 1980 and during that period the team won 17 National Collegiate Athletic Association and 1 Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women National Championships. Dr. Prentice has been the recipient of numerous awards from the NATA including, most notably, the Sayers "Bud" Miller Distinguished Athletic Training Educator Award in 1999, the Educational Multimedia Committee Videotape Production Award in 1997, and the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award in 1999. In 2004, Dr. Prentice was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame. In 2006, the NATA established the William E.
Prentice Scholarship that is presented annually in his name. In 2008, Dr. Prentice was selected in the inaugural class as a NATA Fellow. In 2012, Dr. Prentice was inducted into the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame. In 2014, Dr. Prentice received the Dr. Ernst Jokl Sports Medicine Award from the United States Sports Academy.
In 2019, the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers' Association established the William Prentice Post-Professional Scholarship to be presented annually.