 |  |
Nicholson Retires, Tommerup Named Replacement
Tim Tommerup knows that he has pretty big shoes to fill, but he is excited to have that challenge as he takes over as head athletic trainer at Pacific Lutheran University.
Tommerup, a Washington state native who since 2004 has served as the head athletic trainer at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, will take over for Gary Nicholson, who has retired from full-time service after 38 years at Pacific Lutheran.
"We are excited to have Tim join the PLU athletic staff and give leadership to our athletic training program," athletic director Laurie Turner said. "At the same time, we are extremely grateful to Gary for his outstanding work over a 38-year career at Pacific Lutheran. He has not only been an outstanding athletic trainer, he remains a great friend to those in the athletic department and at PLU."
Nicholson will fill various roles on a part-time basis as he enters phased retirement at the university.
Tommerup comes to Pacific Lutheran with 18 years of experience in orthopedic sports medicine. A graduate of Eastern Washington University who later earned a master's degree from Louisiana State University, Tommerup has worked in various positions in the corporate world in addition to collegiate athletics.
A one-time athletic trainer and instructor at Clark College in Vancouver, Wash., Tommerup served from 2000-04 as program director, instructor and staff athletic trainer at Southern Arkansas University before moving to Transylvania University, where he was hired as the school's first full-time athletic trainer. He provided oversight for all 18 of the school's 18 NCAA Division III athletic teams while providing direct care and coverage for soccer, volleyball, field hockey, basketball, baseball, men's golf and men's tennis.
“I look forward to joining the PLU family and working with the student athletes and coaching staffs,” said Tommerup, who starts at Pacific Lutheran in July. He will give leadership to a staff that also includes two full-time trainers and students who help in the training room.
- PLU -
