Mike Van Bruggen has been the Head Athletic Trainer at Carson-Newman University since January of 2001.

Van Bruggen oversees all aspects of providing comprehensive health care for the more than 500 Eagle student-athletes. Additionally, Mike is responsible for the implementation of the athletic department’s comprehensive Alcohol & Drug Education and Testing Program. Van Bruggen is an active volunteer on local, regional and national levels, serving as a CPR instructor for the American Red Cross. He currently serves as the Tennessee representative on the Southeast Athletic Trainers Association college and university athletic trainers committee. Van Bruggen also serves the Tennessee Athletic Trainers’ Society (TATS) as a member of the public relations committee, the honors & awards committee, and as a member of the corporate sponsorship committee. In 2009, TATS honored Mike with the Eugene Smith/Mickey O’Brien College Athletic Trainer of the Year award. In 2012, the college & university athletic trainers committee of the NATA honored Mike with the Head Athletic Trainer of the Year award for NCAA Division II.

Prior to arriving in Jefferson City, Mike was the Head Athletic Trainer and Assistant Athletic Director at Howard Payne University in Texas. While in Texas, Van Bruggen was active in the Southwest Athletic Trainers Association as a member of the Research & Education Foundation committee. He has also held appointments at Flowing Wells High School in Tucson, Arizona and in the New York Mets minor league system. Van Bruggen earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree from the University of Arizona.

Mike is married to the former Sheri Whitney and they have one son, Alex and a daughter, Samantha.