"No man is a failure who has friends." - Clarence, the Guarding Angel of George Bailey

Nothing could be said truer about Neal Hazen. In fact there are many people that would consider Neal as their guarding angel. This 2023 Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame inductee is recognized by many people as a good friend and excellent health care provider. This mission to provide health care and friendship started in at Ball State University in their short lived physical therapy program. After a few years of wandering around at various academic institutions (Earlham and then, IPFW) he landed in Muncie. In this time he was learning about the physical therapy profession and making contacts in the athletic training room. After graduation he found employment at Whitley County Hospital as a physical therapist. After a year at Whitley County he got a call from Bruce Rueter, his friend from PT school, and told him about a position at Ball State as a physical therapist in the athletic training program. In 1987 this started a 34 year career at Ball State. 25 of those years as the Head Athletic Trainer starting in 1996. In his time at BSU he has taken care of numerous student athletes, coaches, coaches families and faculty and staff. He oversaw a increase in athletic training staff, new facilities, Assisted in development of primary care sports medicine fellowship that provided unprecedented sports medicine physician coverage for student athletes. Lead the development of the CARE team that promotes student-athlete mental well being and safety. Neal was a preceptor in the Ball State Athletic Training Program. Mentoring many student athletic trainers in his career, many who went on to be leaders in the profession of athletic training. In 2019 he was honored by the Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine as the NCAA Division 1 head athletic trainer of the year. He was inducted into the Indiana Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in 2017. He was the IATA College and University Athletic Trainer of the year in 2010 and received the NATA Service Award in 2006. Neal was inducted into to the Cardinal Sports Medicine Society Ring of Honor in 2006. He is an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and former Grand Knight of the Muncie Knights of Columbus. He and his wife Becky reside in Yorktown, IN and are the parents of 8 children, (Mary, Rachel, Sarah, Katie, Paul, Joey, Claire, and Lydia) They are also the grandparents to one grandson, Maverick (Mary and Val).