Athletic Training Faculty
Tom Godar
Tom Godar received his B.S. in athletic training from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and his M.S. in health management from Lindenwood in 2003. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree from Lindenwood University in instructional leadership with an emphasis in higher education administration. Godar joined the faculty in 2003, and from 2003 to 2015, he served as a clinical athletic trainer in the athletics department and an assistant professor in the athletic training program. He became the clinical education coordinator for the athletic training program in 2005, and he was promoted to associate professor in 2009. In 2016, he assumed the position of the program director for the athletic training program.
Michael Nolan - PhD
Michael earned his PhD in Health Sciences in Athletic Training at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. He also holds a B.S. in Athletic Training from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an M.S.Ed. in Kinesiology from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Michael joined the Lindenwood University faculty in the fall of 2023. He is an Assistant Professor in the College of Science, Technology, and Health and the Coordinator of Clinical Education in the Master of Science in Athletic Training program. Before Lindenwood, Michael was a clinical athletic trainer from 2009-2018 at Missouri Baptist University, SIU-Carbondale, and AAA minor league baseball. He can still be found with a sling pack and AT bag on occasion at area sporting events to stay current in clinical practice.
Michael is a certified and licensed athletic trainer in Missouri and transitioned from clinical athletic training to full-time academics in 2018 after serving as an adjunct instructor and clinical preceptor. Michael is married to his wife, Whitney, and they have three children: Madelyn, Katelyn, and Grant.
Athletic Training Staff
Clinical Preceptors
Dan Brennan - MAEd, LAT, ATC
Dan Brennan is entering his 16th year as an Athletic Trainer at Lindenwood University in 2022-23. Brennan is responsible for providing athletic training services to the Lindenwood University women's volleyball team as well as the men's and women’s wrestling programs.
Prior to coming to Lindenwood, Brennan worked as an Assistant Athletic Trainer at Western Kentucky University for four years and then moved on to St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, where he worked in the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Department for 17 years.
Brennan received his Master’s Degree in Education from Western Kentucky University and he also earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Health and Safety Education.
Brennan and his wife, Susan, have four sons: Joe, Matt, Danny, and Ryan.
Zachary Brown
Zachary Brown is entering his third year as an assistant athletic trainer at Lindenwood in 2022-23. Brown is responsible for athletic training of Lindenwood baseball and men's soccer.
Brown is a BOC certified athletic trainer and is licensed in the state of Missouri. He received his Bachelor's of Science Degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 2017. Brown went on to earn his Master's of Science Degree from Purdue University Fort Wayne in 2020, where he also served as the athletic trainer for the Mastodons baseball team.
Michael Heffner
Michael Heffner is entering his 26th year as a Licensed Athletic Trainer and first with Lindenwood University. He will be primarily working with the Men’s and Women’s ACHA Hockey Teams.
A native of Independence, MO Heffner graduated from Southwest Missouri State University (MO State) with a B.S. in Athletic Training. He has worked every level of hockey imaginable amassing over 200 Professional, 750 Junior and countless Collegiate, High School and youth hockey games worked.
Mike resides in Wentzville, MO with his wife, son and dog.
Megan (Hicks) Kelly
Megan Kelly entered Lindenwood working as a Graduate Assistant for football and men’s volleyball eventually being hired on as an Assistant Athletic Trainer providing coverage for football. Kelly received her undergraduate degree from Aquinas College in Athletic Training and continued on to receive her Master of Arts in Sports Management from Lindenwood University in the spring of 2020. Her certificates include Corrective Exercise Specialist and Blood Flow Restriction. Prior to Lindenwood, Kelly was an intern at Eastern Michigan University with their football program.
Kelly was a member of the Track and Field team at Aquinas College participating in the javelin and shot put events. Kelly is a native of Harrison Township, Michigan.
Kristin Trotter - MAEd, LAT, ATC
Kristin Trotter, MS, ATC, LAT, arrived at Lindenwood University in March of 2017 as the Assistant Athletic Director, Head Athletic Trainer. She currently oversees the 12 athletic trainers within the Sports Medicine department and is responsible for providing athletic training services to the men's and women's golf teams.
Prior to her arrival at Lindenwood University, Trotter spent 10 years at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, including the last three years as the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine. During her time at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, she oversaw the athletic training and strength and conditioning staffs and worked directly with the women’s basketball team as well as the golf, softball, swimming and diving, and volleyball teams.
Trotter earned her Bachelors of Science Degree in Athletic Training from Millikin University in 2005, and went on to earn her Masters of Science Degree in Athletic Administration in 2007 from Eastern Illinois University while working as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with the track and field teams.
Trotter is a member of NATA and the College Athletic Trainers Society and is SASTM certified.
