Lynn Bott will be in Baltimore this week when the National Athletic Trainers Assn. conducts its annual convention.

It likely will be his last road trip as a representative of Kansas University. Bott’s KU position has been eliminated. His last day on the job will be June 30.

“It was time. They wanted to go in another direction,” Bott said. “I accept that. It’s rough, sure, but I’ve been blessed to be here 28 years. It’s been a great run. I have nothing negative to say.”

Bott, 50, earned an education degree at Emporia State and a graduate degree at Arizona University before coming to KU as assistant trainer under Dean Nesmith in 1976.

“In those days, it was just the two of us and 10 students,” Bott said.

Times have changed. Today, KU’s staff has eight full-time trainers, five interns and 40 students.

Bott became head athletic trainer when Nesmith retired in 1984, and Bott kept that role until 2002 when Dr. Larry Magee was named director of sports medicine and team physician. In the restructuring, Bott was given the title of director of athletic training services.

Bott’s primary duties since the change were to work with the KU baseball team and to teach in the School of Education’s athletic-training program.

Bott, whose wife, Debbie, is a manager at Douglas County Bank, hopes to stay in Lawrence.

“I’m going to continue in athletic training in some form,” he said. “Lawrence has been great to me. I believe I have a lot to offer with my expertise in rehabilitating injuries. It’s time to explore other opportunities. I’m in no hurry. There’s a lot of things I can do.”

The KU athletic department has advertised an opening for a physical therapist/director of sports medicine. Magee will remain team physician.