Jacob Villarreal, MS, LAT, AT

Biography

Jacob Villarreal joined the University of Houston Athletics Department as associate director for sports medicine in January 2023. In that role, he works closely with the Houston Softball program and evaluates sports injuries and general medical conditions. He also creates personalized rehabilitation programs for student-athletes and works in conjunction with dietitians, strength and sports program coaches as well as orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists. Prior to joining Houston, Villarreal served for nine months as an athletics training fellow with Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners (2022). Villarreal received his bachelor's degree in athletics training from Texas in 2019. Following his undergraduate days, he served as an intern athletics trainer for the Softball and Women's Soccer programs at Texas-Permian Basin and with PhyTex Sports Medicine Clinic. Villarreal served as a graduate assistant athletics trainer at Southern Illinois (2020-22). There, he worked with the Women's Softball and Men's Wrestling programs while earning his master's degree in exercise and sports psychology in 2022. Villarreal is certified for athletics training and is a member of the National Athletics Training Association.