Class of 2026: Mentors

The NATA Hall of Fame represents the highest honor bestowed on members, recognizing those who have shaped the profession through leadership, service and mentorship. Beyond the iconic green jacket and ring, NATA Hall of Fame induction reflects a lifelong commitment to advancing athletic training, supporting future generations of ATs and making a lasting impact on the profession.

The May/June NATA News features profiles on each 2026 NATA Hall of Fame inductee, highlighting their career journeys, volunteer service and influence as leaders. The class of 2026 will be inducted during the 77th NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo in Philadelphia. Don’t miss the NATA Hall of Fame Induction & National Award Ceremony at 1 p.m. June 30.

In this post, the inductees discuss the impact of their mentors. 

Michael Carroll, MEd, LAT, ATC

Frank Walters, PhD, LAT, ATC, is someone who has helped shape who I am both as an athletic trainer and as a leader in the association. He is someone who has always been there for me as a friend and mentor. He has always seen things and believed in me when I didn’t always see those same things or have that belief.

When he was the program director at the University of Virginia, Dave Perrin, PhD, AT Ret., was someone who took a chance on a kid from Texas who thought he knew more than he did. Dave’s patience and calm demeanor are something I’ve tried to model throughout my career. Dave once told me he tried to always learn new things every day and that he never felt like he was done learning, and I have always tried to be the same way.

Robert Casmus, MS, LAT, ATC

The Mount Rushmore of my athletic training career has been Ted Quedenfeld, Steve Bair, Gary Delforge and Otho Davis. They inspired me, taught me so much, encouraged me and showed me what it is to be involved in this profession. I can never repay what they have done for me and my career.

Neil Curtis, EdD, LAT, ATC

Jim Gossett, MS, ATC, Gary Delforge, Joe Godek, AT Ret., Brad Taylor, AT Ret., Phil Donley, AT Ret., Carolyn Jimenez, PhD, LAT, ATC, Sandy Fowkes Godek, PhD, ATC, Sara Brown, MS, ATC, Gail Samdperil, EdD, ATC, Nick Passaretti, Maria Hutsick, Mike Auerbach and my parents, Beth and Sheldon Curtis.

Throughout my athletic training and life journey, these individuals have played a meaningful role in shaping me as a professional and as a person. Their guidance, mentorship and wisdom have profoundly influenced my path, and I am deeply grateful for the impact they’ve had on me.

Michael Higgins, PhD, ATC, PT

Leon Richardson, AT Ret., Phil Tonsiline, Neil McDonald, AT Ret., Keith Handling, AT Ret., and Paula Tourcy. They all have provided guidance and wisdom at some point throughout the many stages of my career.

Thomas Kaminski, PhD, ATC, FNATA

• Peter Criscione: A Fredonia High School history teacher and baseball coach, Peter taught me the importance of hard work and dedication.
• Paul “Doc” Spear, AT Ret.: At Marietta College, Paul opened the world of a robust career in sports medicine by utilizing a “tough love” nurturing approach that brought out my innate intellectual abilities and the best in me.
• Gary Delforge: At the University of Arizona, Gary opened my eyes to the possibilities of becoming an athletic training educator by paying attention to details and following a strict and regimented routine for building competent athletic training professionals. 
• David Perrin, PhD, AT Ret.: After spending almost 10 years of my early career as a clinician, it was Dave from University of Virginia who “lit the fire” for a career of scholarship, inquisition and knowledge building to make our profession stronger through the power of scientific advancement. 
• Chris “CP” Patrick, AT Ret.: Chris may never know just how influential he was during my six-year tenure at the University of Florida. Our sometimes contentious partnership led to the atmospheric rise in our athletic training education program there, producing some of the best and most sought-after athletic trainers in the United States at that time.   

Linda Fabrizio Mazzoli, MS, LAT, ATC

I am fortunate to have had many mentors within our profession: Turocy, Kathy Dieringer, AT Ret., Rob Franks, Lisa Kluchurosky, MEd, ATC, Linda Meyer, AT Ret., Nancy Burke, MS, AT Ret., Steve Mackell and Pat Croce to name a few. These individuals pushed me to think beyond tradition, speak openly about athletic trainers’ presence at the business table and address the questions that others may hesitate to ask, so we can continue advancing our profession with confidence.

However, the most impactful individual who mentored me was Chuck Kimmel. Chuck took an interest in my perspective at a time when many were skeptical about how athletic trainers could be valued for their skill set rather than defined by their setting. He encouraged my thinking, sharpened my focus, and reinforced my vision for the future – emphasizing value, worth and opportunity for athletic trainers within the health care field. He listened to concerns beyond secondary schools, colleges and professional sports by opening dialogues on risk, liability, insurance, legislative changes and even reimbursement for services beyond the traditional settings. He understood that these issues would impact all settings over time and encouraged the conversations.

Jack Ransone, PhD, ATC, FACSM

I have been incredibly fortunate to be mentored by numerous athletic trainers, physicians and coaches who have both inspired and challenged me throughout my career. Among the most impactful have been Larry Gardner, ATC, Jack Harvey, MD, Joe I. Vigil, PhD, Bill Dickey, PhD, Bill Chambers, AT Ret., Lindsy McLean, AT Ret., Hemming Atterbom, PhD, Bob Adams, DO, Ken Knight, PhD, FNATA, and Bob Pankey, PhD. Each of these individuals shaped me in unique ways – challenging my thinking, strengthening my clinical decision-making, modeling leadership and reinforcing the importance of integrity and lifelong learning. Their mentorship helped refine not only my professional skills, but also my philosophy of care, collaboration and service.

I’m grateful for the lessons learned from past students, fellow athletic trainers, coaches and athletic administrators. Their perspectives, questions and shared experiences have continually pushed me to grow. Collectively, these relationships have been invaluable and have profoundly influenced my professional journey and personal development.