University of Arizona Athletics

Education: BS Athletic Training, Pittsburgh 2000, MA Education, Arizona 2002

Recognized as one of the best in his profession at all levels of basketball, Justin Kokoskie has served as Arizona Basketball’s athletic trainer since the 2002-03 season. Kokoskie manages the day-to-day medical needs of basketball student-athletes as well as for Arizona’s men’s and women’s golf programs.

Affectionately nicknamed “J Rock”, Kokoskie is a lynchpin for hundreds of former players back to the program. He has overseen medical care and treatment for generations of student-athletes, including many who have gone on to distinguished professional careers. NBA champion player and coach Luke Walton calls Kokoskie, “the best basketball athletic trainer on any level”. While former Wildcat All-American and 10-year NBA veteran Jerryd Bayless refers to him as “a great trainer and an even better person”. His basketball athletic training experience also includes work with Team USA as a staff member for the United States’ gold medal run through the FIBA U19 World Championships in Greece in 2015. He also served as the head athletic trainer of the 2024 USA U-18 FIBA AmericCup team where he teamed up with Arizona Wildcat Head Coach Tommy Lloyd to win the gold medal. In addition to his work with men’s basketball, Kokoskie has worked with both of Arizona’s golf programs, which include a national championship and numerous Pac-12 titles.

His connection to the golf teams also runs deep with alumni. He caddied for his friend, former UA All-American and assistant men’s golf
coach Chris Nallen. A former golfer himself, Kokoskie was on the bag when Nallen won his first professional tournament, the Nationwide Tour’s Gila River Classic, in 2004.

Kokoskie arrived at the University of Arizona in 2000 and served as an athletic training graduate assistant for two years, assisting the athletic training needs of Arizona’s football and soccer programs. He has also served as an adjunct professor at UA, teaching an undergraduate course on sports medicine during his career in Tucson.

The West Allegheny, Pennsylvania native graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine. He completed his master’s degree at Arizona in 2002. Kokoskie is married to Katie (Fischer), and they have three children: Jackson, Gianna and Lucy. His son, Jackson, is a University of Arizona student.