Interview With Nick Richey, Michigan State Athletic Trainer

Among the perks of being a writer for The Only Colors has been the chance to meet some of the behind-the-scene people in the Michigan State Athletic Department. One such person who I have met and spoken with on a few occasions is the athletic trainer for the Men’s Basketball Team, Nicholas Richey . Nick was generous enough to take some time from his busy schedule to answer a bunch of my questions.

Editor’s Note: these responses were given during the course of the 2025-26 basketball season, but it was my choice to wait until after the season to publish this. Any wording that seems off is due to that delay. Let’s get to the interview.

1. Hey Nick, let’s start off with a quick job description. I’m sure some people do not know what the athletic trainer does.

Please enlighten us. NR: Athletic Trainers are, very often, the first line of defense for a student-athlete participating in sport. We specialize in injury evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation and prevention.