Dustan Thrift was named the director of sports medicine in November 2010  after spending his first two years as an assistant athletic trainer at Texas A&M-Commerce at Texas A&M-Commerce. As the director of sports medicine, he serves as the head trainer for the football program.

Prior to his promotion, he served as the head athletic trainer for men's basketball and the men's and women's golf teams and as an assistant with the Lions' football team.

He has bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University and went on to earn his master's degree from the University of Arkansas.

Thrift is a licensed athletic trainer in the state of Texas and certified nationally by the NATA. He, his wife Joanna, and his daughter Sophie live in Commerce.