Keith Handling (2014) - Hall of Fame - University of Delaware Athletics

Keith Handling

Induction:
2014
Class:
1970

KEITH A. HANDLING
Head Athletic Trainer (1988-2008)
Assistant Athletic Trainer (1972-88)
Associate Professor (1972-2019)

Serving in the roles of head athletic trainer and assistant athletic trainer, Keith provided expert care for thousands of UD student-athletes during his 36-year tenure.

One of the nation’s most respected athletic trainers throughout his career, Keith began his time at UD as a student under Hall of Famer Dr. Roy Rylander in 1967, became assistant athletic trainer and a UD faculty member in 1972, and was promoted to the role of head athletic trainer in 1988 when Rylander retired. He served in that position until 2008.

A native of Reading, Pa., Keith earned two degrees from Delaware, in physical education in 1970 and physical therapy in 1980, and his master’s degree in physical education from West Chester in 1976.

While at Delaware, Keith helped establish the nationally-respected UD Undergraduate Athletic Training Program, served on the Board of Directors for Special Olympics, was selected as the Delaware Special Olympics Volunteer of the Year in 1995, was inducted into the DSO Hall of Fame in 1997, received the Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award in 1999, was inducted into the Delaware Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in 2004, and served as athletic trainer at every home and away Blue Hen football game - a streak of 438 consecutive games - between 1972-2007. He also served as athletic trainer for three UD national football championship teams.

In 2010, the UD Athletic Training Education Program established the Keith Handling Athletic Training Award, a scholarship awarded annually to a student in the Athletic Training Education Program. Keith and his wife, Linda (a 1969 and 1972 UD graduate), reside in Landenberg, Pa. Both of their children and their spouses are Delaware graduates. Keith served as an associate professor at UD in the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology until 2019.