PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns have promoted longtime athletic trainer Aaron Nelson to Vice President of Athlete Care and Head Athletic Trainer, and have entered into a multi-year agreement with him. In addition, the Suns have signed a multi-year agreement with Mike Elliott, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach/Assistant Athletic Trainer.
“We are delighted to enter into multi-year agreements with Aaron and Mike,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby. “The Suns’ training and medical staff has been justly recognized not only among the very best in the NBA, but in all of professional sports. Their innovative approach to athlete care and performance recovery is world class.”
Widely respected for their methods and credited with prolonging the careers of some of the game’s best players, the Suns’ training staff annually keeps healthy a roster that ranks among the NBA’s best in games missed due to injury. Originally hired in 1993 in an assistant role, Nelson has been the team’s head trainer for the last 13 seasons after taking over for the Suns’ original trainer, Ring of Honor member Joe Proski, in 2000. Elliott has been a member of Nelson’s staff for 10 seasons, including the last four in his current role.
Assistant Athletic Trainer/Rehabilitation Coordinator Tom Maystadt, who joined the organization in 2009-10 and has served in his current position the last four campaigns, and Performance Recovery Consultant Tyler Wallace, who just completed his first season with the team, round out the Suns’ training staff.