Behind The Scenes With Steve Bagus

Happy Thursday Steel Fans!! We hope that you are having a great week. Only a few more days until the weekend! Looking back, we have given you an inside look to our players and coaches during the season and off-season. One area that we haven't given you a look into are the other areas of the organization that play a vital role at the Steel. 

Today, we sat down with our Athletic Trainer, Steve Bagus. Steve is originally from Oak Lawn, Illinois, and received his Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training in 2008 from Illinois State University. Upon graduation he accepted a position with AthletiCo and served as Head Athletic Trainer at Alonzo Amos Stagg High School in Palos Heights. In 2009 he was named Assistant Athletic Trainer at Mt. Carmel High School on Chicago’s southside and served as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Chicago Griffins Rugby Club. While in his current role, Steve had an opportunity to work with the United States Soccer Federation’s Under 14 Men’s National Team in Bradenton Florida and the Under-18′s Men National Team in Lisbon, Portugal. Steve was also a high school hockey player in his youth, capping his career as a forward at Brother Rice High School in 2004.

Now that you know a little bit about Steve, 

we thought we would ask him some questions!!

What is your primary role with the Chicago Steel?

I’m the head athletic trainer for the Chicago Steel.

How did you first get involved with the Steel?

I started with the Steel four seasons ago. I was appointed to the position through Athletico due to my hockey experience and love for the game.

What is your favorite part about working for the Steel?

I enjoy being a part of the athlete’s accomplishments and watching them succeed in life beyond the Steel.

What would you say is the hardest part about your job?

The hardest part of my job is working with the athletes at their lowest point and having to tell an athlete they can’t play because of their injury.

What are you looking forward to most this season?

Getting to work with and build relationships with the new players.

What is your typical day like at the Steel for you?

I get to the rink before workouts and start treatments [treatments include but aren't limited to: stretching, ice, e-stim, massage, taping, padding, heating, etc.] and evaluations for the athletes. I do rehab for the injured players during workouts, and I prepare the other players for practice, I’ll watch practice and deal with any injuries that occur, and then do post practice treatments for all the players.

What is a typical game day like for you?

I get to the rink before morning skate to prepare the players. Post morning skate I do treatments for the players, prepare the water bottles and powerade for the home and visiting teams, set up the benches, and do paperwork until the players return to the rink for the game. Closer to game time I prepare players for the game. Then during the game I’m on the bench in case an injury occurs. Following the game, I do treatments and clean-up.

We hope you learned a little bit about what our head athletic trainer does here at the Steel. Come back next week as we take an inside look at our Equipment Manager, Pat Dolan.