A career built on athlete safety

Rod Walters was involved in the care and prevention of student-athlete injuries for twenty-seven years on college campuses, from Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, North Carolina, to Appalachian State University in Boone, to the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he spent 17 years.

He expanded his work to a full-time consulting role in 2007. Clients have included Cirque du Soleil, the Professional Baseball Umpires of MLB, the NFL and the Big 12 Conference, where he provides concussion monitoring services. He was the lead AT Spotter for the 2019 Super Bowl.

Walters has led and participated in high-profile investigations, including the exertional heat stroke deaths of Jordan McNair (2018) and Braden Bradforth (2019), and the 2024 exertional rhabdomyolysis investigation at Tufts University involving 24 men's lacrosse players. He is a highly sought expert witness and has testified in court cases related to exertion and physical activity.

He was asked to direct the University of Maryland's inaugural Athletic Medicine Review Board and also serves on the University of Georgia board. He serves as a third-party reviewer of professional sports teams' medical staffs in the provision of emergency care for critical sports injuries, and works with many professional teams, including in the NFL.

In August 2025, Walters Inc. joined Andrews Athlete, where Rod now serves as National Director of Athlete Safety.

Education & Honors

Publication

Tape, I-C-E, and Sound Advice

Life Lessons from a Hall of Fame Athletic Trainer · Foreword by Lou Holtz

A compilation of life and business principles based on the life and career of Rod Walters. Morgan James Publishing, 2012.

Get Your Copy Today