Utah State promotes Mike Williams to head athletic trainer

This past December, assistant athletic trainer Mike Williams saved basketball player Danny Berger's life with his steadiness and swiftness in an emergency.

Utah State has decided those are the kind of qualities it wants in its head athletic trainer.

On Thursday afternoon, the school via news release announced Williams will assume the role on May following the retirement of Dale Mildenberger, a 38-year employee at the university. It wraps up a high-profile year for Williams, who was widely recognized for his heroics after treating Berder with an automated external defibrillator on Dec. 4.

Williams has been recognized by the university, the Utah state legislature and the American Heart Association for his actions. But he also has experience, serving as an athletic trainer for the last 14 years primarily for men's basketball.

It's a logical move following Mildenberger's retirement: Williams became the most well-known trainer in the state after helping save Berger's life. After the incident, many school staffers and officials noted Williams history of responding with cool under pressure, as well as his professionalism.

It only makes sense that Utah State would want to put all of its athletic programs under his watch. I'm betting Berger endorses the move.

Here's a link to the full release.

— Kyle Goonkgoon@sltrib.comTwitter: @kylegoon