Yuichiro Hidaka joined the Rhode Island Athletic Department as an Associate Athletic Therapist in the spring of 2024. In his role, he works directly with the baseball and women’s volleyball programs.
Hidaka came to Kingston after working as the head athletic trainer for Sendai 89ers, a professional basketball team in Japan, from 2022-24. He as the athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach for the Altay-2 BKO, a professional volleyball team in Kazakhstan from 2021-22.
Hidaka has served as the head athletic trainer at the University of the Southwest (2018-19), where he also was an adjunct faculty member, teaching Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries. He also has been an athletic trainer and advisor for VaYore Projects in Japan from 2019-2021.
Hidaka has worked as an athletic trainer with the University of Wyoming track and field and women’s soccer programs (2015-18), the Radford University track and field, women’s soccer and field hockey teams (2012-15), the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps in Allentown, Pa. (2011-17), Komae High School in Tokyo, Japan (2001-07) and the Halau Hula Onaona ‘O KaMaile Hawaiian dance team in Tokyo (2005-07).
While he was a student, Hidaka completed internships with the Wichita Thunder of the CHL (2011-12), the San Diego Padres (March of 2010), the NEC Red Rockets professional volleyball team in Yokohama, Japan (summer of 2001) and the Niagara University men’s ice hockey team (2002-03). In addition, he worked with the Wichita State men’s and women’s track and field/cross country teams and baseball team (2010-11). He also spent time with the Wichita Heights High School football program (2009) and the Wichita State School of Performing Arts Dance Program (2011-12).
In addition to his work as an athletic trainer, Hidaka has coached soccer (F.C. Interior in Tokyo (1999-2001), and girls basketball (Komae High School, Tokyo, 2001-07). He taught health and physical education at Komae High School (2001-07) and was the head lifeguard for the Wichita State University Heskett Center Natatorium from 2009-12.
An accomplished ultramarathoner, Hidaka completed the Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run in 20:30:44 in 2014, and in 2018 he completed the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning, finishing four 100-mile runs in a span of 11 weeks. He ran a personal best for 50-mile runs at the JFK 50 Mile Run in 2013 with a time of 7:41:15, and he completed the 50 kilometer Dahlgren Heritage Rail Trail in 3:59:11 in 2013. Hidaka has finished the Boston Marathon eight times, and he ran a personal best for marathons with a time of 2:56:54 at the 2018 Fort Worth Marathon.
Hidaka completed a bachelor’s degree in Sport Science from Tokyo’s Nippon Sport Science University in 2001. He later completed his bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Wichita State in 2012, where he also earned a master’s degree in Education/Sport Management in 2011. He has a diploma in Judo Therapist from Tokyo’s Nittai Jusei Medical College for Judo Therapeutics (2002).
updated 7/9/2024
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