University of New Haven Athletics

Kristoffer Friend enters his sixth season with the University of New Haven Athletic Training staff for the 2021-22 school year after joining the athletic training staff in August, 2016. He currently serves as the athletic trainer for women’s soccer, men’s & women’s cross country, and baseball. Friend has also served as Head Athletic Trainer for Football and worked with the Charger women’s basketball team. Prior to New Haven, Friend worked in high school athletics and inside the physical therapy clinic.

Friend received a BS in Athletic Training from the University of Connecticut in 2009 and a MS in Sports Medicine/Injury Studies from California State University, Long Beach in 2011 where he was responsible for covering women’s soccer and track & field for the Long Beach State 49ers.

A native of Meriden, Conn., Friend joined the Army in 2003 as a Combat Medic, and is still actively serving in the U.S. Army Reserve as an Army Reserve Career Counselor and is a member of the Army Reserve Competitive Marksmanship Program where he served as the Head Coach for the rifle team for the 2021 season. He currently resides in Trumbull with his wife Aarika and three children Emmy, Ruby, and Archer.