Charles "Chuck" Medlar was a fixture at Penn State for more than 40 years. He served as the head athletic trainer for over 35 years, working primarily with the football team while also helping establish the foundation for the athletic training system at Penn State. He was later the head baseball coach and also served and an assistant professor of physical education.
Medlar first came to Happy Valley in 1938 as a three-sport student-athlete (football, basketball, and baseball). He left in 1941 to play professional baseball and also served in the Navy during World War II. After the war and his professional career, Medlar returned to Penn State and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees.
Upon his graduation in 1946, Medlar was hired onto the football athletic training staff and was later promoted to head athletic trainer. During his tenure, he served under four head football coaches: Bob Higgins, Joe Bedenk, Rip Engle and Joe Paterno.
While in this role as an athletic trainer, he also served as an assistant coach with the baseball team. He would go on to compile a 312-141-6 (.680) record in 19 years as head baseball coach from 1963-1981.
Medlar coached four All-Americans, 16 All-Region honorees, 14 Major League draft picks, all while leading the Nittany Lions to two College World Series appearances, one in his first year in 1963 and the other in 1973.
Since 1985, the Penn State baseball team has honored Medlar with an annual award, the Charles Medlar Award, which is given annually to the team's outstanding pitcher.
Medlar was a 2000 inductee into the Pennsylvania Athletic Training Hall of Fame. He was on the U.S. athletic training staff for three Olympic Games - in 1952, 1964 and 1968 Mexico City games in which he was the head athletic trainer. Medlar was recognized as a Founding Father of Athletic Training in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society.
