The Lee University Athletic Department has announced the promotion of Dan Heinbaugh to Head Athletic Trainer while Bre Crittenden will serve as the Sports Medicine Coordinator.

Heinbaugh will step in to fill the void of longtime Sports Medicine Director Jeff Mullins who stepped aside from his post at the end of August. Heinbaugh previously served as an Athletic Trainer for the women's soccer team and baseball team and has been with the Flames for the past six seasons. Prior to joining Lee, he served as a graduate assistant at NCAA Division II Pfeiffer University for two years. Heinbaugh received his bachelor's degree in athletic training from West Virginia University and worked with women's soccer, football and men's basketball as well as working the Bob Huggins Basketball Summer Camp.

Heinbaugh is a certified athletic trainer and will oversee the Athletic Training Department as well as work primarily with coach Chris Hennessey and the women's soccer team and coach Mark Brew and the baseball team. He and his wife, Kerri reside in Chattanooga with their daughter, Evie.

"I want to thank Jeff Mullins for the groundwork he has laid for the sports medicine department over the last 20 years, I am excited to pick up where he left off," said Heinbaugh. "I am blessed to have an incredible and hardworking staff surrounding me. We have worked together as a solid unit and only look to get better. We have an outstanding group of coaches and athletic staff who have been very supportive over the years. It's not often you get to work with such great people, who are also great coaches. I am lucky to have to opportunity to work alongside them.

"Finally, I want to thank Athletic Director Larry Carpenter for the opportunity to step up into a leadership role," concluded Heinbaugh

"We are thankful for Jeff Mullins' leadership and commitment over the last 20 years. His vision allowed us to create a sport medicine staff focused on the overall well-being of each student-athlete," said Lee Associate Athletic Director, Jessica McIntyre. "With Dan's experience here at Lee and his dedication to our student-athletes, it was an easy decision to have Dan lead our Sports Medicine staff. He is an excellent athletic trainer and I look forward to watching him lead the Sport Medicine staff."

Breanne Crittenden will serve the Lee Athletic Department as the Sports Medicine Coordinator. Crittenden is no stranger to Lee as she graduated from the  Athletic Training program in 2014 where she also played and competed nationally with the Lee Women's Rugby Club from 2010-2015.  She worked with the Flames as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with basketball and tennis from 2014-2016 and graduated with her Masters of Arts in Teaching in 2017.  From 2016 to now she has served as a Direct Assistant Athletic Trainer and an assistant to Team Physician Dr. DeWayne Knight.  Crittenden notes her favorite quote recently is from Corrie ten Boom, "Look around and be distressed, look within and be depressed, look at Jesus and be at rest." She and her husband Wade live in Cleveland with their three children, Vance, Liam and Lincoln.

"The addition of Bre as the Sports Medicine Coordinator will help to continue to provide the highest level of care for our student-athletes. A lot has been asked of our sport medicine staff in the last two years with additional Covid protocols. They have met these challenges head on and provided great care for our student-athletes," concluded McIntyre.