LSUS's Neffendorf wins NAIA Athletic Trainer of the Year

LSUS's Neffendorf wins NAIA Athletic Trainer of the Year

SHREVEPORT -- LSU Shreveport director of sports medicine Meghan Neffendorf has been named the NAIA Athletic Trainer of the Year, the organization announced Monday.

Neffendorf protects the health of student-athletes in six different sports and three club teams.

She distinguished herself as a model in the athletic training profession in personal conduct and professional allied health service.

"Meghan's recognition as the NAIA National Athletic Trainer of the Year is a testament to her unwavering commitment to the health, performance, and resilience of our student-athletes," said LSUS athletics director Lucas Morgan. "Behind every national championship team is an elite athletic trainer ensuring that each student-athlete is prepared, protected, and performing at their best.

"Her expertise and care have been the foundation of our success, and this honor is more than deserved."

Neffendorf, the first three-time Red River Athletic Conference Athletic Trainer of the Year in league history, was selected among award-winning athletic trainers from 20 NAIA conferences.

Outside of injury prevention and treatment, Neffendorf has streamlined other processes including insurance protocol, which has saved the department in premium costs and delivered care more quickly to student-athletes.

Neffendorf's service to the department goes beyond the playing fields and surfaces as she was named the Senior Woman Leader in the athletics department in 2024.

The Athletic Trainers Association Board Secretary also organizes baseball tournaments that LSUS hosts, including the NAIA Opening Round.

Athletics success has been abundant at LSUS with its baseball team posting college baseball's first-ever perfect record (59-0) en route to the university's first national championship in any sport.

All five other sanctioned sports were ranked in the Top 25 at some point during the 2024-25 academic year with club sport bass fishing earning a top-five ranking in the single university division.

Neffendorf, who is the wife of LSUS head baseball coach Brad Neffendorf, previously served at Southern Illinois, Tennessee Wesleyan, Campbellsville and New Mexico, gaining experience at the NCAA Division I and NAIA levels.

LSUS Athletics adds the Athletic Trainer of the Year award to the Athletics Director of the Year (NACDA) and Baseball Coach of the Year awards from national organizations, highlighting the record-breaking campaign for the Pilots.