Mark Smaha, an Iowa native, started his career in 1967 at Iowa State University. After receiving his B.S. in 1970, he went on to Marshall University in West Virginia as the assistant athletic trainer. In 1970, a tragic airplane crash killed 75 people including Marshall's football team, athletic personnel, and boosters. This led Mark into assuming the responsibilities as the head trainer. There he finished his M.S. degree in 1972 and moved to the University of Washington to join a research team in studying athletic injuries at the high school level. While working for the University of Washington and Interlake High School as a teacher and athletic trainer, he co-authored a book on athletic training. Smaha later became the head athletic trainer for the University of Idaho in 1975, and then the head athletic trainer for Washington State University (1978), also to become the Director of Athletic Medicine. Mark's accomplishments also go on to include an officer in the NATA as Secretary/Treasurer of District 10 (NWATA) (1979), Director/President of NWATA (1982), member of the NATA Board of Directors (1982), Vice-President of the NATA (1986), President of the NATA (1988-1992),three Presidents Commendations for Life Saving Emergencies, a nomination for the NCAA Award of Valor (1982), Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award (1994), and inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1997 and into the Northwest Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame in 1998. Currently he is a consultant within his own company, MJS Communications