St. John's University Athletics
Jill Christensen Promoted; Ron Linfonte Retires from St. John’s
11/10/2020 4:45:00 PM | General
Red Storm Sports Medicine Department Undergoes Leadership Change
QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's Athletic Department has promoted Jill Christensen to Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine, effective immediately. Christensen will lead the Sports Medicine Department after the recent retirement of Ron Linfonte, one of the longest tenured employees in the history of St. John's Athletics.
Entering her 28th year of service at St. John's, Christensen's will oversee the medical care for all 17 varsity teams and serve as the head athletic trainer for the men's basketball program.
"Without a doubt, Jill will continue to provide the necessary leadership in our sports medicine department and oversee a first-class operation that is so essential to the health, safety and ultimately the success of our student-athletes on the field of play," said Director of Athletics Mike Cragg. "Jill is a highly skilled and well respected athletic trainer with an unrivaled passion for St. John's Athletics, which makes me even more confident that she will seamlessly transition into her new role."
Christensen returned to St. John's for her second stint as a member of the athletic training staff prior to the 2013-14 academic year. Most recently, she worked primarily with the Red Storm women's basketball program while managing the day-to-day sports medicine operations that supports over 300 student-athletes. Since her return to Queens, Christensen has been a part of numerous postseason berths with the women's basketball program, including the team's run to the 2016 BIG EAST Championship.
An alumna of the University of Iowa, Christensen was a member of the training staff that went with the Hawkeye football team to the Rose Bowl in 1986. She initially came to St. John's in 1989 as the senior associate athletic trainer, a role that oversees injury prevention, rehabilitation and management for Red Storm student-athletes. In addition training staff duties for the ensuing 21 years, Christensen served as the Director of Equipment Operations from 2005-10 where she managed the department-wide partnership with Nike and ran day-to-day support for all Red Storm sports teams.
"I want to thank our administration for giving me this opportunity," said Christensen. "I also want to acknowledge our athletic training staff who continue to be excellent in their responsibilities with our student-athletes amidst the pandemic. St. John's has always fostered a family culture in my years here. I am part of this family and I will always represent those values and carry them forward in my new role."
Following her brief stint away from St. John's, primarily in a managerial role utilizing her massage therapy skills, Christensen returned to Queens in 2013 to resume her role as senior associate athletic trainer. Over the past year, her elevated responsibilities included the direct oversight of three full-time staff members and three graduate assistants.
Outside of St. John's, Christensen is an active member in the local community through her volunteer work with numerous charitable organizations. Notably, she has played a major role in her work with The League of Yes in Long Island, a branch of the Miracle League, which she helped found in 2010.
Christensen holds a bachelor's of science in exercise science, sports medicine and athletic training from the University of Iowa, as well as a degree in massage therapy from New York College of Health Professions. She is a member of both the National Athletic Trainers Association and the American Massage Therapy Association.
Linfonte, who previously held the title of Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine, arrived at the University for the 1981-82 basketball season, the same year as a freshman class headlined by a trio of local products in Chris Mullin, Bill Wennington and Ron Stewart. In the 39 years that followed, Linfonte was on the sideline for 707 wins while playing a part in 18 NCAA Tournaments, six NITs, three Elite Eights and the 1985 Final Four.
"We deeply appreciate Ron's dedicated service to the University over the past four decades," said Cragg. "His commitment to St. John's ever since his arrival has helped our department, specifically our men's basketball program, reach great heights and he has had such a positive impact on so many of our student-athletes over the years. Ron will forever be a member of the St. John's Athletics family and we wish him the very best in his retirement."
Linfonte championed athletic training efforts for nine different men's basketball head coaches and heard 22 of his players' names called in the NBA Draft.
In addition to his highly visible role with the men's basketball team, Linfonte also served as the athletic trainer for the St. John's baseball team for 17 years, a period that included numerous BIG EAST Championships and four NCAA Regional appearances.
Outside of his work with the Red Storm, Linfonte also has an extensive history at the international level. He has been actively involved with the United States Olympic Committee for more than three decades, traveling to Barcelona for the Olympics in 1992. Linfonte also worked with USA Basketball, including a 1993 tour of Europe with the US Select Team. He was also on the sidelines in 1992 as that team scrimmaged "The Dream Team" in preparation for Barcelona.
Entering her 28th year of service at St. John's, Christensen's will oversee the medical care for all 17 varsity teams and serve as the head athletic trainer for the men's basketball program.
"Without a doubt, Jill will continue to provide the necessary leadership in our sports medicine department and oversee a first-class operation that is so essential to the health, safety and ultimately the success of our student-athletes on the field of play," said Director of Athletics Mike Cragg. "Jill is a highly skilled and well respected athletic trainer with an unrivaled passion for St. John's Athletics, which makes me even more confident that she will seamlessly transition into her new role."
Christensen returned to St. John's for her second stint as a member of the athletic training staff prior to the 2013-14 academic year. Most recently, she worked primarily with the Red Storm women's basketball program while managing the day-to-day sports medicine operations that supports over 300 student-athletes. Since her return to Queens, Christensen has been a part of numerous postseason berths with the women's basketball program, including the team's run to the 2016 BIG EAST Championship.
An alumna of the University of Iowa, Christensen was a member of the training staff that went with the Hawkeye football team to the Rose Bowl in 1986. She initially came to St. John's in 1989 as the senior associate athletic trainer, a role that oversees injury prevention, rehabilitation and management for Red Storm student-athletes. In addition training staff duties for the ensuing 21 years, Christensen served as the Director of Equipment Operations from 2005-10 where she managed the department-wide partnership with Nike and ran day-to-day support for all Red Storm sports teams.
"I want to thank our administration for giving me this opportunity," said Christensen. "I also want to acknowledge our athletic training staff who continue to be excellent in their responsibilities with our student-athletes amidst the pandemic. St. John's has always fostered a family culture in my years here. I am part of this family and I will always represent those values and carry them forward in my new role."
Following her brief stint away from St. John's, primarily in a managerial role utilizing her massage therapy skills, Christensen returned to Queens in 2013 to resume her role as senior associate athletic trainer. Over the past year, her elevated responsibilities included the direct oversight of three full-time staff members and three graduate assistants.
Outside of St. John's, Christensen is an active member in the local community through her volunteer work with numerous charitable organizations. Notably, she has played a major role in her work with The League of Yes in Long Island, a branch of the Miracle League, which she helped found in 2010.
Christensen holds a bachelor's of science in exercise science, sports medicine and athletic training from the University of Iowa, as well as a degree in massage therapy from New York College of Health Professions. She is a member of both the National Athletic Trainers Association and the American Massage Therapy Association.
Linfonte, who previously held the title of Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine, arrived at the University for the 1981-82 basketball season, the same year as a freshman class headlined by a trio of local products in Chris Mullin, Bill Wennington and Ron Stewart. In the 39 years that followed, Linfonte was on the sideline for 707 wins while playing a part in 18 NCAA Tournaments, six NITs, three Elite Eights and the 1985 Final Four.
"We deeply appreciate Ron's dedicated service to the University over the past four decades," said Cragg. "His commitment to St. John's ever since his arrival has helped our department, specifically our men's basketball program, reach great heights and he has had such a positive impact on so many of our student-athletes over the years. Ron will forever be a member of the St. John's Athletics family and we wish him the very best in his retirement."
Linfonte championed athletic training efforts for nine different men's basketball head coaches and heard 22 of his players' names called in the NBA Draft.
In addition to his highly visible role with the men's basketball team, Linfonte also served as the athletic trainer for the St. John's baseball team for 17 years, a period that included numerous BIG EAST Championships and four NCAA Regional appearances.
Outside of his work with the Red Storm, Linfonte also has an extensive history at the international level. He has been actively involved with the United States Olympic Committee for more than three decades, traveling to Barcelona for the Olympics in 1992. Linfonte also worked with USA Basketball, including a 1993 tour of Europe with the US Select Team. He was also on the sidelines in 1992 as that team scrimmaged "The Dream Team" in preparation for Barcelona.
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