Jay Sabol begins his eighth season as Head Athletic Trainer for the Heat. Taking the post from Ron Culp in 2008, Sabol has spent the last 27 seasons with Miami, including 13 as Assistant Athletic Trainer. In his current capacity, he oversees the entire sports medicine staff to keep the Heat healthy during the regular season, postseason and off-season. Sabol has previously served as the team’s equipment manager and assistant strength and conditioning coach, and served as a team attendant for his first five years with the organization. Sabol was born and raised in Miami and graduated from Florida International University in 1992 with a Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology. As Assistant Athletic Trainer from 1992-95, Sabol covered basketball and soccer for FIU, while working games as a training room attendant for the Heat, before joining the team full-time in 1995. He is certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association, National Strength and Conditioning Association, National Academy of Sports Medicine and licensed by the State of Florida Department of Health.

Jay resides in Miami, FL and enjoys collecting muscle cars, fishing and boating in his free time.

Wes Brown has been an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Heat since 2014 after spending seven years at the University of Miami as associate athletic trainer. His duties include managing the day-to-day health of Heat players during the regular season, postseason and off-season.

During Brown’s tenure with the Hurricanes, he provided daily medical care for the men’s basketball program as well as the cheerleaders and Sunsations. He also served as an approved clinical instructor for Miami’s CAATE accredited Undergraduate Athletic Training Program.

Prior to his arrival at UM, Brown spent five years at UNC Wilmington where he served as the Director of Sports Medicine for three years. Brown is a certified performance enhancement specialist (PES), certified corrective exercise specialist (CES), certified Kinesio taping practitioner (CKTP) and a Level 2 fascial stretch therapist. He also taught classes as an instructor for the Kinesiology department.

A native of Jacksonville, N.C., Brown earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Training from UNC Wilmington in 2000, before earning his Master’s Degree in Athletic Training from Old Dominion University in 2002.

Brown and his wife, Alana, have one son, Kayden and one daughter, Ariana.

Armando Rivas begins his fourth season with the HEAT as an Assistant Athletic Trainer. As part of his duties, he assists in the specific aid of HEAT players, attending to their individual care and needs.

Rivas brings with him a wealth of experience in the field of sports medicine. This season marks his ninth consecutive year in the NBA, with previous stops in Philadelphia (one season), Minnesota (one season) and Chicago (three seasons). Prior to joining the basketball world, he spent seven years as the Director of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer for the Los Angeles Galaxy and eight as the Head Athletic Trainer for various minor league teams in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization.

He graduated from Cal-State Fullerton with a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training and followed that up with a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology from Cal Poly Pomona. A native of California, he currently maintains residence in Rancho Mission Viejo.

Jeff Bangs embarks on his fourth season with the HEAT as the Assistant Athletic Trainer, having originally joined the organization in January of the 2020-21 season to navigate COVID case management. In his role, he assists in the training room and travels with the team to assist players and staff with their needs on the road.

Prior to joining the HEAT, Bangs spent four seasons with the Washington Wizards, including two as the Head Athletic Trainer. He graduated from West Chester University with a Bachelors of Science in Athletic Training. A native of Philadelphia, Bangs currently resides in West Kendall with his wife, Brittany, and their son, Jordan.

A member of the NBATA since 2022, Ian Lackey currently serves as an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Miami Heat. He previously served four seasons as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Sioux Fall Skyforce--Miami’s G League affiliate.

Prior to becoming a member of the Heat sports medicine staff, Lackey worked as an athletic trainer for the University of South Dakota from 2014-2018. While at the University of South Dakota, his primary responsibility was with the USD football team, but had responsibilities with several of their other 16 sports and with a majority of the student athletes.

Lackey earned his Bachelor of Science degree in athletic training at Dakota Wesleyan University (2014), where he was also a student athlete on the DWU football team. He earned his Master of Arts degree in Kinesiology, with an exercise science emphasis, at the University of South Dakota (2016). In addition to being a certified athletic trainer, he also holds certification in dry needling, blood flow restriction therapy, and as a corrective exercise specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Lackey is a native of Lindsborg, KS, and he currently resides in North Bay Village, FL, with his fiancé Alyssa.