A 1977 graduate from the University of Rhode Island, Kim Bissonnette enters his 26th year at URI in 2016-17. In 2009, he was promoted from Head Athletic Trainer to Associate Athletics Director for Health & Performance. Bissonette also serves as the sport administrator for the women's swimming and diving program.
Prior to his appointment at URI, he was the Head Athletic Trainer at Bentley College in Waltham, Mass. for six years, and was a member of the athletic training staff at Northeastern University from 1979-1985. In the summer of 1985 he also worked as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Rhode Island Gulls of the United States Basketball League.
Bissonnette is an active member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), the Eastern Athletic Trainers Association (EATA) and the Rhode Island Athletic Trainers Association (RIATA). He has served on many national, regional and state committees and was instrumental in the development of the current licensing law that governs the practice of athletic training within the state Rhode Island. He served as the President for the Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts, and co-founded the Rhode Island Athletic Trainers Association serving as the inaugural President as well. He has been a lecturer, clinician and member of the support medical staff for many regional events including the USFSA National Championships and the Boston Marathon, and received the University of Rhode Island Staff Excellence Award in 2001.
In January, 2007, Bissonnette was inducted into the Rhode Island Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame and more recently won the Words Unlimited Bill Cawley Memorial Award in 2012.
A native of Portsmouth, R.I. Bissonnette graduated from Portsmouth High School before he earned his B.S. from the URI in 1977 and his M.S. from the University of Arizona in 1978. He is in charge of the overall athletic training program, with direct responsibility for intercollegiate football and swimming and diving. A certified member of the National Strength & Conditioning Association, Bissonnette has three daughters, Jocelyn, Lindsy and Kara, and resides in Wakefield, R.I.
updated: 8/11/16
