NOCSAE Names Parsons New Executive Director

OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS (March 27, 2025) ― The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) has appointed John Parsons, PhD, ATC, as its next executive director, effective April 1. Parsons succeeds retiring Executive Director Mike Oliver, who will continue to serve as NOCSAE’s general counsel and act as executive director through the end of the year.

Parsons’ selection follows a national search and he was unanimously approved by NOCSAE’s board of directors. He will oversee NOCSAE’s work as a leading force in efforts to reduce sports injuries through scientific research and athletic equipment standards.

“John brings immeasurable expertise and experience to the role of executive director and the NOCSAE board is delighted to have him lead the organization forward,” said Ken Stephens, NOCSAE board president. “John has dedicated his career to protecting athletes, from his early work as an athletic trainer to his leadership of the NCAA’s Sport Science Institute. He also represented the NCAA on NOCSAE’s board of directors for more than 10 years, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to our mission and a deep understanding of the role NOCSAE plays in enhancing sports safety for players of all ages.”

Parsons, an athletic trainer, comes to NOCSAE from the NCAA Sport Science Institute, where he served as managing director since 2014. At the NCAA, he oversaw SSI operations, advised the NCAA membership on student-athlete health and safety policy and served as the primary staff liaison to the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports.

Prior to that, Parsons spent 17 years as a professor, researcher and administrator in sports medicine and athletic training at A.T. Still University in Arizona. He has served in national leadership roles with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education and the profession’s Board of Certification. He has also served as a peer reviewer and editorial board member for several scientific journals. Parsons holds a PhD in organizational communication from Arizona State University, a degree he pursued to support his passion for advancing sports medicine policy, an M.S. in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of Arizona, and an M.S. in Medical Informatics from A.T. Still University.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead NOCSAE and support the distinguished experts represented on our board of directors and standards committee,” said Parsons. “For more than 50 years, NOCSAE has and continues to provide critical leadership in sport safety. I’m both humbled and incredibly excited by this opportunity to contribute to NOCSAE’s established legacy of excellence. I see tremendous opportunities ahead to build on our success, deepen our relationships with stakeholders and enhance athletic protection across sports.”

“John is an exceptional leader and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to NOCSAE,” Oliver said. “His commitment to driving innovation in sports safety, strong relationships with governing bodies and passion for educating and engaging stakeholders will be invaluable to ensuring NOCSAE’s future impact and success. I’m excited to pass the baton to such a dedicated and seasoned sports safety expert to carry our mission forward.”

Since Oliver began his tenure as executive director of NOCSAE in 1995, he has worked to advance and expand the organization’s groundbreaking work in athletic equipment performance standards across dozens of sports. He also helped to establish and drive NOCSAE’s industry-leading research program which has funded nearly $12 million in studies to better understand athlete safety and injury dynamics in a wide range of sports. This included efforts to prioritize funding for pioneering research in sports concussions and commotio cordis beginning in the mid-1990s when there was limited understanding of these injuries.

Building on this research, Oliver played a pivotal role in the development of the world’s first performance standard to protect against commotio cordis for lacrosse and baseball players. He advocated for the board of directors to establish third-party certification for all NOCSAE standards, ensuring the highest level of integrity and rigor in compliance across the standards industry.

“The NOCSAE board is profoundly grateful for Mike Oliver’s three decades of leadership and his tireless work to advance our mission,” Stephens said. “Thanks to his strategic guidance, NOCSAE is well-positioned to address the challenges and opportunities ahead. We wish Mike all the best in his retirement and deeply appreciate that he will continue to act as general counsel.”