If you are a Mass Maritime student-athlete there is no doubt you know Head Athletic Trainer Chris Barry and Assistant Athletic Trainer Colleen Nolan well. If you are another member of the Massachusetts Maritime family you may not know who they are or what they do. Many of us don't know exactly what they do though they are responsible for the well-being of each and every one of our athletes at the Academy. They see our athletes long before the season begins to make sure each athlete is medically cleared to play. They treat the athletes before and after practices and games. They are the first on the scene for an injury to a Buccaneer or opposing player during a game. That only scratches the surface of what they do as their job and responsibilities go so much further. With March being National Athletic Training month we wanted to recognize, thank and take an in-depth look at the two people who know each of our Buccaneer student-athletes the best and keep them healthy.  

Head Athletic Trainer – Chris Barry

Coach Barry received his undergraduate degree from Salem State College. We won't hold that against him. Since then he has 30 years of athletic training and strength conditioning experience.

Before becoming a member of the Buccaneer family, Chris worked for the Southcoast Hospitals Group where his assignments included athletic trainer for Wareham High School, the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League and he assisted in the Southcoast's rehabilitation setting. His journey also included time as an athletic trainer and strength and conditioning specialist for High Performance Sports Medicine. At the collegiate level, Chris spent time as the assistant athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass.

Arguably one of Coach Barry's most impressive experiences was at the national elite level as an athletic trainer for the United State Ski Team. He worked with the group of elite national skiers from 1995 through 2000. This time included him being a member of the 1998 Winter Olympic Team in Nagano, Japan.

Chris' experience ranges from the high school level, Danvers High School, St. John's Prep, and Bishop Fenwick, as well as semi-pro football, collegiate summer baseball, U.S. Olympic teams and much more. But, since 2007 he has called himself a Buccaneer.

In 2007, Chris Barry joined the MMA family as the assistant athletic trainer, strength and conditioning coach and the co-head men's and women's track & field coach. In 2012 he was named Head Athletic Trainer, the position he holds to this day.

"My position at Massachusetts Maritime is the icing on the cake for me." Said Barry. "It's truly a blessing to drive onto one of the most picturesque campuses I know and park along the banks of the Cape Cod Canal, each and every day. Combine that with a hardworking staff, quality student-athletes, facilities that rival any small institution, and recipe for success is set".

Chris Barry resides in Bourne with his wife and daughter. If he is not on campus he is likely at the beach or on the slopes. Depending on the season of course.

Assistant Athletic Trainer – Colleen Nolan

Colleen Nolan was raised on Cape Cod and has been on the Cape most of her life. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in athletic training education and cardiovascular health and exercise from Northeastern University in Boston, Mass in 1993. She went on to get her Master's Degree in exercise science from George Mason University.

From 1997-1999 she served as the assistant athletic trainer at The University of Richmond. It took nine more years but Colleen realized she likes Buccaneers more than spiders, but who doesn't.

In 1999 Nolan returned to the Cape and became the Medical Coordinator for the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod Baseball League. She held this position with one of the most historic teams in the Cape League until 2017. From 2001 to 2007 she worked at Falmouth Hospital as an exercise physiologist. Following her time in Falmouth she became the athletic trainer at Dennis-Yarmouth High School, a position she held until 2012.

In 2008 Colleen began working on a per diem basis for Mass Maritime, her first college athletic position since the University of Richmond. Realizing she wanted to be at the collegiate level, she found her opportunity to get in to the Maritime family on a full-time basis when head athletic trainer Greg Folino retired in 2012. At that point, Chris Barry was appointed head athletic trainer and Colleen Nolan was named assistant athletic trainer.

"I really enjoy working at the Academy." Said Nolan. "It's a unique and challenging atmosphere but the student-athletes make every second count either on the field or in the classroom. I am amazed that I get to work in such a great place, with great people every single day."

Colleen resides in Harwich, Mass with her husband Neil and their dog Maisie.

It doesn't have to be March to take a moment to appreciate the people who keep our Buccaneers in sailing shape. Thank you, Chris and Colleen.