WASHINGTON - Gallaudet University Athletics Department is proud to participate in The Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA) Equipment Manager Appreciation Week and recognize our own Facility and Equipment Coordinator Kris Gould, '87, and Facilities and Equipment Specialist Matt Cracraft, '19, for all of their hard work supporting and helping the Bison athletic teams. The AEMA Equipment Manager Appreciation Week is held annually during the third week of September, this year's dates are Sept. 21-27.
"We greatly appreciate Kris and all he does for Gallaudet Athletics behind the scenes to make our teams look good and ready to compete day in, day out. His commitment to his craft and to Gallaudet University is unmatched. We wouldn't be the same without Kris and we are thrilled to recognize him and his facilities and equipment staff this week," said Gallaudet Associate Athletic Director Sam Atkinson. "The recent addition of Matt to our team has been tremendous and he compliments Kris well and has helped to fill a much needed void for our athletics department. We appreciate Kris and Matt and their student workers for their time and service to GU athletics."
Gould has been a part of Gallaudet University athletics for over 35 years. He joined the GU athletics department in 1991-92 and has held many different positions including head coach, assistant coach, athletic trainer, game management, equipment manager to his current post of Facility and Equipment Coordinator. Gould is a jack-of-all-trades, has been the man behind the scenes doing tireless work, and a mainstay of GU athletics for three decades.
He was a standout student-athlete from 1982-85 where he played three seasons of men's soccer (1983-85), three seasons of baseball (1983-85) and two years of men's basketball (1982-84). Gould was inducted into the Gallaudet Athletics Hall of Fame on July 11, 2014.
Cracraft was recently hired as the Facilities and Equipment Specialist before the start of the Fall 2025 semester. Cracraft joined the athletics department after working four years in central receiving for the University. Cracraft played four years on the Bison football team from 2015-17, '19. Cracraft was a three-time Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) All-Academic honoree and earned 2019 CoSIDA Football Academic All-District First Team honors for District 2. He received two major National Football Foundation (NFF) honors his senior season including being named a 2019 William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist and later in the spring being named to the 2020 NFF Hampshire Honor Society.
"Athletic equipment managers are the unsung guardians of sports. They make sure every helmet fits, every pad is safe, and every athlete can perform with confidence. Their expertise directly impacts athlete safety and team success, yet their work is rarely in the spotlight. Appreciation Week is our chance to say loudly and clearly: these professionals are essential to every level of athletics, from high schools to the pros." said Ann Kitt-Carpenetti, Executive Director of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA).
Launched in 2018, this annual tradition shines a spotlight on the dedicated professionals who work behind the scenes to maintain, fit, and manage athletic equipment — a cornerstone of athlete safety and team success.
About AEMA
The Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA) is the premier professional membership and certification organization for athletic equipment managers across high school, collegiate, and professional sports. For over 50 years, AEMA has advanced the profession by providing equipment managers with essential education, certification, career development, and networking opportunities. Members benefit from monthly e-newsletters, professional awards, regional and national meetings, continuing education and certification programs, a job board, and the annual AEMA National Convention. Today, AEMA represents a global network of more than 1,600 equipment managers dedicated to athlete safety and excellence in sports. For more information visit https://equipmentmanagers.org.
