Bio

Erick Buitrago begins his seventh year with the College of the Canyons athletic department in 2024. As a certified athletic trainer, Buitrago is responsible for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of activity related injuries and conditions that student-athletes sustain while participating in intercollegiate athletics at COC.

In addition to his athletic training duties, Buitrago is an adjunct faculty member in the college's kinesiology department and chairperson of the Sports Medicine Advisory Board at COC. He teaches and mentors students interested in careers in sports medicine. Buitrago is also a preceptor for the California State University, Northridge (CSUN) Athletic Training Education Program and supervises one to three CSUN Athletic Training students every semester.

Prior to joining COC, Buitrago spent eleven and a half years at California State University, Northridge as the athletic trainer for men’s soccer, baseball, water polo, and men’s and women’s golf teams. From 2005 to 2006 Buitrago served as an assistant athletic trainer at Indiana State University, working specifically with the Sycamore baseball, softball, and women’s soccer teams. In December of 2007, Buitrago was the on-set athletic trainer for the first season of the new "American Gladiators."

Buitrago has taken extensive courses in manual soft tissue therapy for the treatment of soft tissue dysfunctions. From 2012 to 2014 Buitrago completed a series of courses in Functional Soft Tissue Transformation through the Gray Institute that included the lower extremity, upper extremity, and the spine. Buitrago completed his Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) certification in January of 2013 through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). In June of 2019, Buitrago completed a Spine Certification in Functional Range Release through Functional Anatomy Seminars. In November of 2020, Buitrago completed his M2-Advanced Certification in the Graston Technique to become fully certified in Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization. In February of 2023, Buitrago completed 3D – Movement Analysis & Performance Systems (MAPS) Certification through the Gray Institute.

Buitrago is currently employed by the NFL in the Player Health & Safety Department as a Concussion Spotter and is completing his seventh season with the league.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology with an option in Athletic Training from Cal State Northridge in 2002. From 2003 to 2005, he served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer at Southern Illinois University where he also received a Master’s degree in Sport Management and Social Psychology of Sport in 2005. He worked with the Saluki baseball team and the swimming and diving teams. From 2014 to 2016 Buitrago completed courses in Functional Soft Tissue Transformation through the Gray Institute.

He played two years of college baseball at Los Angeles Valley College. During the summer of 1997, he pitched for the Kenosha Kroakers of the prestigious Northwoods Woodbat League in Kenosha, Wi.

Buitrago resides in Valencia with his family.

— Bio current as of Sept. 2024