Chris earned a Bachelor of Science from Lipscomb University in 1981 and a Master of Arts from Appalachian State University in 1987. Chris served as the Head Athletic Trainer for Lipscomb University from 1981-1991 and a sports medicine consultant to David Lipscomb High School from 1982-1991. After a brief stint as the Director of Sports Medicine for Pinnacle Rehabilitation in Nashville in 1991-92, he joined Baptist Hospital's Center for Sports Medicine as a Senior Athletic Trainer. With Baptist he directed outreach programs and developed relationships with the Nashville Predators and Tennessee Titans. Chris joined Star Physical Therapy where he managed sports medicine services for 15 schools and directly supported Goodpasture Christian School athletics for more than 20 years.
His relationship with Goodpasture Christian School was exceptionally important to him. Chris developed Emergency Action Plans for the school and championed the acquisition of AEDs for all buildings on campus. Goodpasture was the first high school in Tennessee to implement neurocognitive concussion testing. He led the concussion management team and managed athletes’ return to play post-concussion. “Snoddy”, as he was most affectionately called, provided everything from band-aids to saving three lives during his tenure.
Chris is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and the Tennessee Athletic Trainers Society where he served as President from 2010-2014. He has been recognized with the Mayor's Medallion for the City of Nashville (1986), the Clinical Athletic Trainer of the Year twice (1992 & 2003), the Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Southeastern Athletic Trainers Association (2005), was inducted in the Lipscomb University Hall of Fame (2004), the Tennessee Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame (2005), National Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award (2012), and National Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year (2019). During Chris' tenure, Chris was the Primary Athletic Trainer for 11 TSSAA State Championship Teams and 2 NAIA National Championship Teams.