Cairns leaving Kansas

Mark Cairns, a fixture in Kansas University’s athletic department the past 18 years, has accepted a job as athletic trainer at Neu Physical Therapy Center in Lawrence.

Cairns, 43, worked with men’s basketball 17 of his 18 years as a full-time employee at KU. He’s worked as clinic manager since last year.

“It was time for me to take the next step,” said Cairns, citing a desire to spend more time with his wife, Janet, and daughters Mary and Grace. “I’ll be working with teens all the way to 60-, 70-year-olds.”

Cairns’ last day at KU is today.

“I walked in the basketball office today and looked at five Final Four trophies and one national championship,” Cairns said Wednesday. “I have nothing but great memories here.”

Kansas is sorry to lose Cairns.

“We will miss Mark’s contribution to the sports-medicine program,” said Dr. Larry Magee, KU’s director of sports medicine. “He gave a lot to the program besides athletic training — administrative skills, drug testing and teaching CPR. We’ll struggle to replace him. He reached the point he wanted to spend more time with his family. We support Mark and his decision.”