Ritchy Hitoto joined the East Texas A&M athletic department as an Associate Athletic Trainer in February 2024. Hitoto came to Commerce after spending the last season at Norfolk State as the Head Football Athletic Trainer. With the Spartans, Hitoto also directly worked with the golf programs.
Prior to Norfolk State University, Hitoto worked as the Head Athletic Trainer at Texas Wesleyan University. He worked directly as the head of the football, basketball (men's and women's) and track and field programs. He also oversaw all other sports of the athletic department.
Hitoto also served as Head of Sports Medicine for Team USA Table Tennis Para Athlete. He helped during the the Para US National Championships and the Para US Open. And in 2022 he embarked with Team USA for the World Para Table Tennis Championships which took place in Granada, Spain.
Before Texas Wesleyan, Hitoto was the Head Athletic Trainer at Pratt Community College located in Pratt, Kansas. He was in charge of the insurance, medical care, recovery, prevention and rehabilitation of all student-athletes.
Hitoto previously served as an athletic trainer for the Orthopedic Medical Group of Tampa Bay at their physical therapy clinic in Tampa, Florida. Prior to his work with OMG, Hitoto worked as an assistant athletic trainer alongside two NBA G-League teams. Before his stint with the G-League, Hitoto served as assistant athletic trainer with the NFL's Detroit Lions and Houston Texans, as well as an intern with MLB's Tampa Bay Rays.
He has also worked with the Sports Medicine and Strength and Conditioning staff at the University of South Florida. While with the Bulls, he worked with men’s and women’s soccer and basketball, as well as track and field and cross-country athletes.
Hitoto earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and Public Relations from the University of Utah in 2010 and a Master of Science in Sports Medicine Athletic Training from the University of South Florida in 2018. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Health and Human Performance from Concordia University Chicago, with an expected completion in 2025. He is a certified athletic trainer through the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and a Performance Enhancement Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Hitoto is married to Naomi and the couple has one daughter, Keshia.
