Fred Hina is in his 12th year as head athletic trainer for the University of Louisville men's basketball team and his second as the Director of Sports Medicine.
Prior to his arrival at Louisville, he spent 15 years as an athletic trainer in the New York Mets' organization, the last seven as head athletic trainer. In 1994, Hina was voted the International League's Trainer of the Year, and he was one of the finalists for Minor League Trainer of the Year.
Hina (pronounced HEE-nuh) joined the Mets' organization directly after school, where he worked with New York's Kingsport (rookie league) farm team of the Appalachian League. He continued to advance through the Mets' organization throughout his career. In 1988, he was with Columbia (A) of the South Atlantic League; in 1989, St. Lucie (A) of the Florida State League; in 1990, Jackson (AA) of the Texas League; in 1991, Williamsport (AA) of the Eastern League; and from 1992-94, Norfolk (AAA) of the International League. He was appointed the New York Mets' head trainer on Oct. 27, 1994.
Hina, 48, is a 1987 graduate of Western Kentucky with a degree in Health Care Administration and a 2004 graduate of Alabama with a Master's of Arts Degree.
Hina is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers Association as well as the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
He and his wife Gina have three sons: Jared, Justin and Jacob.