Official Home of Benedictine College Athletics

Catherine Ruhland, M.Ed., LAT/ATC, CES/PES
Associate Athletic Trainer & Rehabilitation Coordinator

Catherine joined Benedictine College in 2017 and currently serves as an Associate Athletic Trainer and Rehabilitation Coordinator, providing primary coverage for the Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs and the Raven Dance Team. She is a National Board Certified Athletic Trainer, licensed in both Kansas and Missouri, and an active member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and the Kansas City Athletic Trainers’ Society.

Catherine earned her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and her Master of Adult and Post-Secondary Education from the University of Saint Mary. During her graduate studies, she served as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer for women’s volleyball and softball while also assisting with football, track and field, and cross country. She later completed an interim athletic training role with the Kansas City Monarchs baseball organization and provided sports medicine coverage for high schools and youth sports through Overland Park Regional Medical Center before joining Benedictine.

From 2018 to 2025, Catherine served as an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Saint Mary, teaching in both the Master of Athletic Training and Undergraduate Exercise Science programs. Her teaching experience includes courses in health and wellness in diverse populations, clinical rehabilitation techniques, therapeutic modalities, motor skill development, sports-related injuries and illnesses, and community and personal health. She continues to support the next generation of clinicians as a preceptor for Master of Athletic Training graduate student interns. 

Catherine holds advanced credentials as a Corrective Exercise Specialist and Performance Enhancement Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She is certified in myofascial cupping, blood flow restriction therapy, dry needling, and shockwave therapy for orthopedic rehabilitation and sport performance. Her additional certifications—including SafeSport, Stop the Bleed, QPR, and ESSAT Crisis Management for Athlete Mental Health Management and Planning—reflect her commitment to comprehensive, athlete-centered care.

In addition to her collegiate responsibilities, Catherine remains active in the Kansas City community by providing athletic training coverage for local high school athletics, Friday night football, and youth soccer, basketball, volleyball, and wrestling events throughout the region.

In 2022, Catherine was honored as the Heart of America Conference Athletic Trainer of the Year and currently serves as Vice President of the Heart of America Conference Athletic Training Board.