Mike Van Bruggen begins his 20th year as head athletic trainer for the Eagles.

In 2012, Van Bruggen was honored as the Division II Athletic Trainer of the Year by the College and University Athletic Trainers' Committee of NATA.

He is licensed and nationally registered as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician.  

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. As a faculty member in C-N’s Department of Health, Physical Education and Sport Science, Van Bruggen has been instrumental in the development of the athletic training education major which was awarded national accreditation in the fall of 2004 and reaccreditation this year.

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 Executive Committee. In 2009, TATS honored Mike with the Eugene Simith/Mickey O’Brien College Athletic Trainer of the Year award.

Prior to arriving in Jefferson City, Mike was the Head Athletic Trainer and Assistant Athletic Director at Howard Payne University in Texas. 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