Tony Nguyen was promoted to Deputy Athletics Director at the University of West Florida (UWF) in August 2024 after serving seven years as Senior Associate Athletics Director. In his current role, Nguyen provides executive leadership for the department’s daily operations, oversees capital construction projects, and has sport oversight for men’s basketball, men’s soccer, and baseball. He plays a key role in strategic planning and infrastructure development that supports the long-term vision of UWF Athletics.
Nguyen began his UWF career in August 2000 as the Head Athletic Trainer, managing the medical care and safety of student-athletes across 13 sports. He led a staff consisting of a full-time assistant, graduate assistants, and athletic training students. He was promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for Operations in September 2008, and then to Senior Associate Athletics Director in September 2011.
In addition to his athletic training responsibilities, Nguyen served as an instructor in the Division of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science within the College of Professional Studies. In July 2002, he became the Clinical Coordinator for UWF’s Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP), acting as a liaison between clinical instructors and the program director. He played a key role on the ATEP Advisory Committee, helping the program achieve accreditation.
Before joining UWF, Nguyen was an Assistant Athletic Trainer at NCAA Division I Western Kentucky University, where he was responsible for the daily care of the men’s basketball team and provided support to the baseball, men’s soccer, and football teams. He also managed inventory for the athletic training department.
Nguyen previously held a Graduate Assistant position at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), where he earned his master’s degree in Sports Administration. At USM, he served as the primary athletic trainer for football, women’s basketball, and baseball, coordinated athletic insurance, and supported all intercollegiate programs. During his time there, the football team competed in the 1998 Humanitarian Bowl, and the baseball team advanced to the 1998 NCAA Tournament, during which Nguyen served as Interim Assistant Athletic Trainer.
Earlier in his career, Nguyen was the Head Athletic Trainer at Vanguard High School in Ocala, Florida, where he oversaw athletic care for 33 varsity teams and supervised clinical experiences for University of Florida athletic training students. He also participated in a major epidemiological injury study and taught courses in the Department of Exercise and Sports Sciences at UF.
Nguyen’s athletic training journey began with an internship at Lynn University in Boca Raton during the 1995–96 academic year. He assisted with injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation for NCAA Division II athletes and gained valuable experience working with the Miami Heat post-season camp and Major League Soccer training camps.
Nguyen earned a bachelor’s degree with honors in Exercise and Sport Sciences with a specialization in Athletic Training from the University of Florida in 1995, and a master’s in Sports Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1999. He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), College Event and Facility Management Association (CEFMA), International Collegiate Licensing Association (ICLA), and National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA).
Nguyen is married to the former Christal Henderson of Waynesboro, Mississippi. They have two children, Sydney and Noah.
