Dan Bailey (2008) - Hall of Fame - Long Beach State University Athletics

Dan Bailey

Induction:
2008

The end of an era came on August 10, 2007 when Dan Bailey retired from the Department of Athletics at Long Beach State. Bailey was at Long Beach State for over 36 years, 34 of those serving as the Head Athletic Trainer. He began at Long Beach State in August of 1971 serving as an assistant trainer under Tom Oxley and then was hired in physical education to work as an athletic trainer half time and in the Student Health Center as a physical therapist, half time. Three years later, in 1974, he became the head trainer. Bailey earned his undergraduate degree in physical education at the University of Utah, where he played football and wrestled. In 1971 he received a graduate degree in physical therapy at USC. In addition to working with the 49er athletic teams, he has been extensively involved with several Olympic teams. In the late 1970's he started working with the USA women's sculling team. Joan Linde (Van Blom) was one of his athletes. In 1982 he began working and traveling with USA water polo. During the 1984 Olympics he was in charge of athletic training for the sailing venue in Long Beach, he worked for the U.S. women's sculling team at Lake Casitas, and the USA men's water polo team at Pepperdine. He continued to work off and on with USA water polo until 1990 when he became the head athletic trainer for USA men's water polo, working in that capacity through the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games and the 2006 World Championships.An innovator among athletic trainers, he was the first to use heel and lace pads, an item every training room uses to prevent blisters when taping. He was also the first person to sell pre-lubed heel lace pads. He was instrumental in developing a summer education program with various Japanese colleges and universities, whereby Japanese students were brought to the Long Beach State campus to study athletic training. He is the past president of Long Beach Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy, Inc. and over the years he has developed various athletic training and software products. Bailey passed away on November 16, 2007 due to complications from surgery.