Longtime Alabama athletic trainer, mental heath director Dr. Ginger Gilmore to retire after bowl game

Longtime Alabama athletic training staffer Dr. Ginger Gilmore is retiring at the end of the 2024 college football season, the program announced on Monday.

Gilmore joined the Crimson Tide’s staff in January of 1996. She is credited with helping create the behavioral health program for the Alabama athletic departement, which is now considered to be one of the premier programs in the country.

Her job focused on providing mental and behavioral health resources to athletes across all Alabama althetic programs. She worked closely with the football program for many years. Dr. Gilmore’s official title was of Assistant Athletic Director of Behavioral Health and Wellness for the Crimson Tide.

THANK YOU DR. G! 🏈 ❤️

After years of dedication, care, and unwavering commitment to our team, we celebrate the retirement of Dr. Gilmore!

Thank you for keeping our players strong, healthy, and ready for every challenge. You’ll always be a part of the Crimson Tide family! pic.twitter.com/F8mf8f6IQt

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 30, 2024

Gilmore released a statement to go along with her retirement announcement:

“For three decades I’ve had the honor of serving as an athetlic trainer and director of behavioral medicine at The University of Alabama. My journey comes to an end as we play our final game against Michigan. I will walk off the field for the last time, taking so many incredible memories, experiences, and friendships with me in my heart.

“To ALL the former student athletes and individuas I’ve been privileged to work with over the years – THANK YOU! My new journey begins now with a great opportunity in front of me thanks to the Bama Standard. Roll Tide Forever!”

Her tenure will end after the Reliaquest Bowl against Michigan on Dec. 31.

Dr. Gilmore began her career at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, where she served as an athletic trainer for four years.

After that, she arrived in Tuscaloosa where she served as the head athletic trainer for women’s basketball and baseball before Nick Saban took over the football program in 2007. Once Saban arrived, Dr. Gilmore was specifically recruited by the legendary head coach to spearhead efforts for his program.

She credited Saban for helping provide her the resources and support to build a flourishing mental health department at one of the nation’s premier athletic programs.

“Coach started this push in ’07 when he arrived,” she told OnBalance’s Walt Norley. “We’ve had something in place but Coach Saban’s passion is taking care of the student athlete and mental health is a big part of that. So as he incorporated that in the football world, it spread out through to the other sports. … We’re able to be successful to offer resources to all student athletes, not just for football.”

There, she would create the athletic department’s mental and behavioral health program, which now provides resources for over 600 athletes each year.

She has six national championships and eight SEC championships under her belt, but has said that her most significant accomplishes have come while treating athletes struggling with their mental health.

Many would consider Dr. Gilmore an invaluable member of the Crimson Tide staff. While most of her work has gone unseen for decades, her impact on the program will be felt for even longer as she begins her retirement.