Geoffrey Staton began serving as the Head Athletic Trainer of the Brooklyn Nets in 2024 after spending five years as the head athletic trainer for the men’s basketball program at the University of Kentucky. Prior to his return to Lexington in 2019, Staton was an assistant athletic trainer with the Phoenix Suns and was also selected to serve as the athletic trainer for USA Basketball’s U19 Men’s World Cup Team in FIBA competition in the summer of 2017 in Cairo, Egypt.

Before joining the Suns, Staton had an impactful stint in college athletics with experience in over 9 different sports at the University of South Florida (2017-18), the University of North Carolina (2014-17), High Point University (2010-14), and the University of Kentucky (2008-2010). At each stop, Staton was a leader in creating collaborative strategies to ensure all aspects of the student-athlete’s well-being, injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance were considered.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science, with a concentration in athletic training from the University of North Carolina in 2007, Staton served as a summer intern with the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets). The Greensboro, North Carolina native earned his master’s degree in athletic training from the University of Kentucky in 2010, where he also served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer and made his first connections with the Wildcats basketball program.

Staton’s impact in his profession was recognized in 2022 when the University of Kentucky honored him with the Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence Award; named after the first African American student to attend Kentucky in 1949 and highlights a member of the UK community whose faith, hard work, and determination positively impact people’s lives. He also received the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award from Greensboro Day School, presented to the graduate who best exhibits extraordinary service and distinction in their field of specialization.

Staton is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), the National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association (NBATA), and has attained the Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

Geoffrey and his wife, Kristie, currently reside in Brooklyn, NY with their son, Trysten.

Phil began studying Athletic Training at LIU Brooklyn where he gained experience interning at the Division I and III levels. During those two internships Phil worked with various sports at Yeshiva University and St. Francis College in Brooklyn as well as completing clinical rotations at Professional Physical Therapy. During his final year of study, he started an internship with both the Brooklyn Nets and Long Island Nets while also working as a Teaching Assistant in the Athletic Training Lab on the LIU Brooklyn campus. Upon graduation Phil remained with the organization following the internship as a Data Scientist and Performance Assistant. He was first appointed as one of the Assistant Athletic Trainers in 2020 and is now entering his third year in the role.

Phil earned a Bachelor of Science in human biology from SUNY Oneonta in 2017 and a dual degree of Bachelor/Master of Science from Long Island University in athletic training in 2019. Became certified as an Athletic Trainer in 2020 and a Corrective Exercise Specialist through the NASM in 2019.