Walter “Kip” Smith is a native of Mentone, Indiana and graduated from Indiana State University in 1973 with a B.S. in Physical Education/Athletic Training and immediately obtained his Masters degree from the University of Arizona with a specialization in athletic training. Kip has been a National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) board certified athletic trainer for 34 years. He has coordinated and provided collegiate sports medicine services for the University of Pittsburgh (9 yrs.) and Indiana University (25 yrs.).
Active in his profession outside the University, Kip has been a lecturer of numerous sport medicine clinics, workshops, and meetings. Additionally, he has been a book reviewer, consultant, and has been published. He has served the Indiana Athletic Trainers Association in various capacities for 16 years and was President from 1998-2000 He was inducted to the IATA Hall of Fame in 2000. Within the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers Association, Kip served on the on the Executive Council for four years with two of those years as Vice President. In this capacity he led initiatives to enhance an awards program and provide further scholarship and research opportunities. He was honored in 2007 with the GLATA Golden Pinnacle Award for leadership, commitment to excellence, and contributions to the profession. Kip also served on the NATA Ethics Committee for 13 years and was instrumental in the writing of the Code of Ethics as we know it today. In 2000, he was bestowed the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer award.
Further, Kip currently serves on the Indiana State University College of Health and Human Performance Advisory Board. He was also recognized as an Outstanding Alumnus by the ISU Athletic Training Department in 2005 and further received ISU College of Health and Human Performance Outstanding Alumni Award in 2007. In 2012, Kip was inducted into the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA) Hall of Fame.
