PUSHING BEYOND WHAT’S POSSIBLE

MATTHEW SCHULTZ

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND HUMAN SCIENCES

Athletic Training 

Matthew Schultz's unwavering passion for basketball first sparked his connection with UNO, beginning when he joined the Nebraska Red Dawgs, a junior wheelchair basketball team for youth with physical disabilities.

For eight years, Matthew and his mother Tricia made the weekly journey from Des Moines to attend Saturday morning practices on campus with Coach Mike Kult, who also served as coach for the UNO Wheelchair Basketball team, which celebrated its final season this April.

When asked about the impact of wheelchair basketball in his life, Schultz explained that the sport helps participants push beyond what they previously thought possible.

“Athletic Trainers were influential on me. I remember being that kid that got hurt and had to sit on the sidelines and wait while my body healed. So, to help kids recover faster with new technology and methods, it’s very rewarding.” 

— Matthew Schultz, athletic training student

Schultz sees his time at UNO as a journey that has come full circle–reconnecting him with his former coach, bringing him back to the H&K Building, and allowing him to pursue his passion for Athletic Training.

From his early days with the Nebraska Red Dawgs wheelchair basketball team to his current pursuit of a career in athletic training, Matthew's story is one of resilience and personal discovery. Through the transformative power of wheelchair basketball, he found the strength to push beyond his limits and discovered a passion to help others recover faster through innovative athletic training methods. “Athletic Trainers were influential on me,” he said. “I remember being that kid that got hurt and had to sit on the sidelines and wait while my body healed. So, to help kids recover faster with new technology and methods, it’s very rewarding.”