Krista Milton has been named the new Coordinator of Athletic Training at Salem High School, effective August 1. Her appointment was formally approved by the Salem School Board at its July 13 meeting.
“I am so honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Athletic Training Coordinator for Salem High School,” says Milton. “I know I have big shoes to fill, and I am ready to jump in and get started serving the community and our student-athletes.”
Milton, who was Krista Pattison at the time, is a 2007 Radford High School graduate who starred in three sports for the Bobcats. She was a second team all-state selection in soccer during her senior season when Radford captured the Group A State Title.
Krista has a bachelor’s degree from Radford University in Athletic Training, and she earned her master’s degree from Virginia Tech in Education. During these years, she completed a one-year internship with Radford University Sports Medicine and worked in the Graduate Assistantship program with the Hokies.
Since 2016, she has shared her talents with young athletes in the Montgomery County School Division. She spent three years at Christiansburg High School and the last two years she has worked as the head athletic trainer at Eastern Montgomery High School.
“Athletic Training has always been a passion for me, but recently I have added to that passion,” she says.
Three years ago, Pattison was asked to design a new course and develop the curriculum for a Sports Medicine class in Montgomery County.
“In doing this, I fell back in love with the profession of teaching,” she says. “It’s rewarding when you see an injured athlete make a complete and full recovery, but it’s even more rewarding when you see a student succeed in the classroom and later go on to college to study athletic training.”
Milton replaces Keith Doolan, who left his Salem post to be closer to family in another state. Krista hopes to continue the tradition of excellence in athletic training at Salem High School that was established more than three decades ago by legendary Salem trainer Chris Tucker.
“I actually met Mr. Tucker during my first year as a high school athletic trainer and he was very encouraging,” she says.
Milton, her husband, Zach, and their young daughter reside in Elliston.
