Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State has announced that Masayasu Takaiwa has been named Assistant Athletic Trainer.

The Tochigi, Japan native joins the Mavericks after serving as an Assistant Athletic Trainer at the University of Nebraska Omaha since 2009.

Takaiwa's responsibilities with Minnesota State will primarily be with the men's hockey team, but he will also work with the Maverick baseball program along with additional administrative duties.

"We are extremely excited about having Masayasu join our staff," said Jeff Chambers, Minnesota State Assistant Director of Athletics/Medical Services. "We not only hired a great human being, but also a well-rounded trainer that has a wealth of knowledge in the profession that will help us as a staff and also help our athletic program succeed."

Takaiwa, who spent five years as the assistant trainer at Nebraska Omaha, worked with 14 varsity sports including men's hockey. Before Nebraska Omaha he spent six years at Eastern Michigan University working with 21 varsity sports and also served as an athletic trainer at Lake Superior State in 2002-03.

Takaiwa earned an undergraduate degree in physical education (CAAHEP Approved Athletic Training) from Nebraska Omaha in 2000 before obtaining a master's degree in Sport and Recreation from Kent State in 2002.