Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
Mike Goforth has seen many changes in the area of sports medicine in his 40-plus years as an athletic trainer.
This includes new technology and more of an emphasis on the mental health of the student-athlete. He officially retired from Virginia Tech as associate director of athletics for sports medicine on Jan. 1.
As associate athletics director for sports medicine, Goforth has overseen the healthcare needs of all student-athletes and organizes all trainers and doctors while supervising all other healthcare-related services that Tech offers.
He came to Tech in 1998 from the Hamilton Medical Center/Bradley Wellness Center in Dalton, Georgia, where he was the director of wellness and sports medicine. He has an extensive background in sports medicine, working at East Tennessee State University, William Fleming High School, and Tusculum College.
Goforth had the dream like most young boys growing up in Bluefield, West Virginia, he wanted to play baseball. But a motorcycle accident when he was a sophomore in high school changed all that.
“I couldn’t play so I started taping (volunteer athletic trainer of sorts),” he said.
From there, the journey started, taking him through college and learning from some experts in the field including the likes of Eddie Farrell at Virginia Tech.
“There were some incredible human beings that helped me along the way. It became a dream job for me,” Goforth said as he reminisced about his career this past week.
He has so many big memories with the Coach Frank Beamer era at Virginia Tech. “That time was fun, and we had some great people that were great players.”
He pointed to a display case at the VT training room, which demonstrated those changes over the years. “The equipment has changed and so has the way we now treat the athletes. Technology has improved and so have the methods of doing things. We now do a lot with the mental side of things and of course with nutrition.”
It might have been his training that tested his own health or possibly identified a problem.
Just over a year ago, his life took a turn he didn’t expect. In November of 2023, he started having headaches and vision problems.
Doctors discovered a tumor. A short time later, this included surgery for removal. Since then, his recovery has brought him full circle, and he’s proud to say he is cancer free.
But Goforth pointed out his retirement is not health related. “This is not health related. I just thought it was time. There is an expiration date on everything.”
Virgina Tech athletic director Whit Babcock said Mike’s impact on the school’s student-athletes and teams has been significant.
“His approach to sports medicine has not only set new standards within our program but has also influenced collegiate sports medicine across the nation. We are immensely grateful for his contributions, and we wish him all the best as he moves forward,” he said.
In the past, Goforth was honored by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) as the Region 3 Head Athletic Trainer of the Year at the NCAA Division I level.
Reflecting on his retirement, Goforth shared, “It has been a true honor to serve Virginia Tech and to work alongside such an incredible group of professionals dedicated to the well-being of our student-athletes. I am deeply grateful for the support of my colleagues, the coaches, and, most importantly, the student-athletes who inspired me every day. I am excited to begin this new chapter, but Virginia Tech will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Goforth has been instrumental in helping local recreation departments in dealing with head injuries and has become a part of Virginia Tech’s ongoing helmet safety research. He hopes to continue that involvement in his retirement while also helping future athletic trainers in the classroom.
