First Female Athletic Trainer in Club History Joins 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers made history this spring when it hired the club's first-ever female athletic trainer.

Assistant athletic trainer Laura Schnettgoecke started her job in March without any fanfare, but according to the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society directory, she is only the third full-time female athletic trainer in NFL history.

The position was created for Schnettgoecke before assistant athletic trainer Nate Breske left to become the head athletic trainer for the Chicago Bears. 

Schnettgoecke previously worked at Texas Tech as an assistant trainer for the women's soccer program and as a graduate assistant at Clemson University for all 21 intercollegiate sports. 

Among the 49ers offseason acquisitions, one particular face on the team’s practice field stands out.

The 49ers on Friday confirmed the hiring of Laura Schnettgoecke as assistant athletic trainer. Schnettgoecke is the first female athletic trainer in club history. The 49ers did not publicize the hiring in a press release, nor is there any mention of her on the team’s website.

Schnettgoecke becomes the NFL's third full-time [female] athletic trainer. Ariko Iso spent nine years with the Pittsburgh Steelers before moving on to become Oregon State’s head athletic trainer. Sonia Gysland, an assistant athletic trainer with the Steelers, is the only other current female in that role, according to the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society directory.

This article excerpt, by Matt Maiocco, originally appeared here: http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/49ers-hire-first-female-athletic-trainer-club-history.