2024-25 RRAC Athletic Trainer of the Year
Meghan Neffendorf, LSU Shreveport

WACO, Texas – For the second consecutive year, Meghan Neffendorf of LSU Shreveport (La.) earned recognition as the 2024-25 RRAC Athletic Trainer of the Year. She is the first three-time winner of the award with all coming in the last four years.

Presented at the completion of each academic year, the RRAC Athletic Trainer of the Year award recognizes an NATA-certified athletic trainer from the RRAC who has distinguished himself or herself as a model of the profession in personal conduct and professional allied health service to student-athletes. The selection is determined through a peer vote of all conference athletic trainers.

As the head athletic trainer for LSUS, Neffendorf played a key role in the historic run of the Pilots' baseball team as they won the NAIA World Series under the guidance of her husband and head coach, Brad. LSUS became the first undefeated team in college baseball history at 59-0, a record that attests to Neffendorf's ability to keep the Pilots on the field and sustain a high level of play throughout the entire season.

LSUS also won conference titles in men's and women's soccer as well as women's basketball with the men's soccer team reaching the final 16 nationally for the first time. Men's soccer and baseball are the two primary sports for Neffendorf, who works in coordination with LSUS Assistant Athletic Trainer, Brandon Deininger.

"Meghan is one of the most detailed oriented Athletic Trainers I know," says LSUS Athletic Director Lucas Morgan. "She is committed to the student-athlete experience and works hard to make sure things are done the right way. I'm excited for her to win this award again. She is beyond deserving!"

Neffendorf has served as an athletic trainer at LSUS for the last five years with the last three as the Director of Sports Medicine. This year, she took on more responsibility in the athletic department as the school's Senior Woman Leader, and she is the NAIA-Athletic Trainer Association (ATA) chair for the RRAC. Neffendorf is the most recent Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine (ICSM) Member for the NAIA, starting in June.

"I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition from my peers in the RRAC," says Neffendorf. "This award is a reflection of the incredible administration, assistant athletic trainer (Deininger), student-athletes, and coaches who inspire me every day. It's not just about treating injuries—it's about building the relationships, creating trust, and helping the student-athletes perform their best in the sport they love.

"I'm truly honored to be recognized for doing what I love. I would also like to thank my husband, Kash, Sutton and my family for all their love and support."

Neffendorf came to LSUS after a short stint as an Assistant Athletic Trainer at NCAA Division I Southern Illinois University covering volleyball. She also served four years at Tennessee Wesleyan University, primarily covering men's soccer, baseball, and men's and women's tennis. She worked with the 2019 TWU baseball team which also won the

NAIA World Series. Before TWU, she was at Campbellsville University (Ky.) for two years, supporting men's soccer, baseball and women's golf.

A native of Frohna, Mo., Neffendorf received her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Missouri State University in 2011. In 2013, Neffendorf received her Master's of Science in Physical Education with a concentration in Sports Administration from the University of New Mexico. While serving as a graduate assistant at UNM, she was primarily assigned to the softball program and assisted with football.

RRAC Athletic Trainers of the Year