Clinical Preceptors – UT Staff

Program Faculty

Brian Farr, M.A., ATC, LAT, CSCS

Director, Athletic Training Program
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology & Health Education

Brian Farr has been the Director of the Athletic Training Program since its inception in 2002. He was instrumental in creating the ATP and has led the program through its initial JRC-AT “candidacy” (2002), CAAHEP accreditation (2006), the transition to CAATE accreditation (2006), and CAATE re-accreditation (2011). He received a Teaching Excellence Award in 2011-12, was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2013, and named Clinical Associate Professor in 2018. He is the co-director and co-founder of the Longhorns Sports Medicine Camp and Director and founder of the Longhorns Lecture Series for Continuing Education, a professional CEU program for area healthcare professionals. He has delivered more than two dozen professional presentations on a variety of sports medicine topics, was lead author on a chapter in Clinical Orthopedic Rehabilitation – An Evidence-Based Approach, 3rd ed, and Clinical Orthopedic Rehabilitation – A Team Approach, 4th ed, and co-authored peer-reviewed published articles in professional journals. Farr received the NATA’s Athletic Trainer Service Award in 2016, the NATA’s Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award in 2019, and SWATA’s Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award in 2019.

Prior to his faculty position, Farr spent three seasons as the athletic trainer for the Longhorn Men’s Basketball team. In addition to tending to the basketball team, he assisted with medical care for UT’s football and cheer and pom student-athletes, coordinated the athletic training student internship program, coordinated the educational in-service program, and taught for the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education (KHED).

Farr came to UT by way of Oklahoma State University where he served as Assistant Coordinator of Sports Medicine working with the Cowboy’s men’s basketball and football teams. He also served as an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in OSU’s College of Education, where he taught athletic training courses. Farr also coordinated OSU’s staff in-service educational series and assisted in the clinical education of OSU’s athletic training students.

Farr also spent one year as the head athletic trainer for the Columbus Chill, a minor league, professional ice hockey team; one season as the assistant athletic trainer with the World League of American Football’s (NFL Europe) Scottish Claymores; and served as an athletic trainer at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, NY. Farr was named to the USOC Sports Medicine Staff for the 2011 Para Pan-Am Games in Mexico. He also served as the athletic trainer with USA Sitting Volleyball at the 2012 WOVD International Cup in Cairo, Egypt, the World Super 6 Tournament in Tabriz, Iran, and a number of national tournaments and training camps.

Farr earned his bachelor of science degree in Physical Education and Exercise Science from Michigan State University in 1993. He completed a two-year graduate assistantship and his master of arts degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation from The Ohio State University in 1996.

Farr is a nationally certified athletic trainer (ATC), a state-licensed athletic trainer (LAT), and a nationally certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS). His professional involvement includes:

• NATA Executive Committee on Education 2016-present
• NATA Comprehensive Internationalization Self-study Task Force, 2019-present
• NATA International Conference Group, 2019-present
• NATA Board of Athletic Training Specialties Taskforce 2016-18
• NATA Convention Program Committee- Advanced Track Project Team 2009-14
• BOC Specialty Certification Council 2018-present
• BOC Exam Development Committee 2011-present
• BOC Home Study CEU Course Reviewer 2001-15
• CAATE Site Visitor 2013-present
• SWATA Executive Board 2014-16
• SWATA Annual Symposium Education Program Planning Committee 2014-present
• SWATA Public Relations Committee 2007-2010
• SWATA Student Research & Education Committee 2005-2008
• SWATA Student Quiz Bowl Item Writer 2012-13 
• TSATA Board of Directors 2010-16
• TSATA Secretary-Treasurer 2011-15
• TSATA State Rep to NATA State Association Group 2011-16
• TSATA State Licensure Taskforce 2016-present
• TSATA Budget Committee 2010-11, 2015

ATP Preceptors

Trent Carter, M.Ed., MAT, ATC, LAT

Assistant Athletic Trainer

Trent Carter joined the UT staff in 2007. Currently an assistant with the football team, Trent worked with the men’s tennis and men’s swimming/diving teams for three seasons.

Carter comes to Austin from Texas Tech University Health Science Center, where he recently completed his Master in Athletic Training degree. While there, he worked one season with the Texas Tech football team as well as the Lubbock school district.

Prior to Texas Tech, Carter completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training at Central Missouri State University. As a student athletic trainer for CMSU he worked with all sports teams and athletes. Carter was certified by the BOC in May of 2008 and Licensed as an Athletic Trainer in the state of Texas in 2007.

Gwendolyn Davis, MHRD, ATC, LAT

Associate Athletic Trainer

Gwendolyn Davis joined the UT staff in July of 2019 as the associate athletic trainer for the men’s and women’s cross country, track and field teams. Prior to coming to UT, she spent eight seasons as the head athletic trainer for the Florida State men’s and women’s track and field teams, as well as the cross-country programs.

Davis spent three seasons, 2008-11, serving in the same capacity for the nationally-acclaimed University of Arkansas cross country, track and field programs. She also worked with the Clemson University men’s cross country, track and field program while in graduate school for a master’s degree in human resources development from 2005-08.

A native of Missouri City, Texas, Davis began her collegiate career at Texas State University-San Marcos, where she graduated from the Honors College Magna Cum Laude in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science, with a major in athletic training and a minor in mathematics.

She is one of three children to Joe and Deborah Davis. She has a sister, Jozetta, and a brother, Clifton. She has four nieces, two nephews, and two great-nephews.

Kelvin Flores, M.Ed., ATC, LAT

Assistant Athletic Trainer

Kelvin Flores joined the University of Texas sports medicine staff in 2013 as an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the men’s and women’s track and field and cross country teams. Prior to joining UT, Flores served as the primary athletic trainer for men’s and women’s track and field and cross-country teams as Wake Forest University.

A 2009 graduate of James Madison University, Flores earned his bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training. Flores obtained his Master’s degree in adult and higher education with an emphasis in intercollegiate athletic administration from the University of Oklahoma in 2012.

During his time at Oklahoma, Flores served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer. During his two years, he worked with the men’s and women’s track and field and cross-country teams. In 2009, he served as a professional certified athletic trainer intern at the University of Colorado at Boulder, helping provide day-to-day health care for the men’s and women’s track and field and cross country teams and women’s soccer.

Kassi Hardee, M.Ed., ATC, LAT

Assistant Athletic Trainer

Kassi Hardee joined the UT Athletic Training staff in 2011. Hardee is a former UT Athletic Training Student (2005-2008) and graduated from The University of Texas at Austin’s Athletic Training Program. After earning her bachelor’s, she spent time across the Atlantic, exploring Europe, before accepting a position as a graduate assistant at a NATA Accredited Post-Professional Masters in Athletic Training program at The University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. Her primary responsibilities while at UVA were football, women’s rowing, and spirit, with the women’s rowing team winning both an ACC and National Championship title. In 2011, Hardee’s master’s thesis was accepted for publication in the Journal of Athletic Training.

After completing graduate school, Hardee moved to Syracuse, NY where she worked as an athletic trainer for a physical therapy clinic and the Syracuse City School District. She returned to Austin to join the UT staff in August 2011 as the assistant athletic trainer with women’s swimming and diving.

Publications

• Johnson KD, Grindstaff TL. Thoracic region self-mobilization: A clinical suggestion. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. 2012: 7 (2): 252-256.
• Johnson KD, Kim KM, Yu BK, Saliba SA, Grindstaff TL. Reliability of thoracic spine rotation range of motion measurements in healthy adults. Journal of Athletic Training. 2012: 47 (1): 52-60.
• Johnson KD, Grindstaff TL. Thoracic rotation measurement techniques: Clinical commentary. North American Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. 2010: 5 (4): 252-256.

Allen Hardin, ATC, PT, MS, SCS, LAT, CSCS 

Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director, Sports Medicine & Performance

Allen Hardin, who joined the sports medicine staff in 1997, oversees the Texas Athletics Sports Medicine & Performance support areas for all men’s and women’s athletic teams. He serves as the administrator for the Sports Medicine, Athletic Performance, and Performance Nutrition staffs.

The Temple, Texas, native earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from TCU in 1991 and his master’s in physical therapy from the University of Miami (Fla.) School of Medicine in 1993. Prior to coming to Texas, Hardin was the Director of Clinical Research and Physical Therapist at the Berkshire Institute in Wyomissing, PA from 1993-96.

Hardin is an American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Certified Specialist in sports physical therapy, a Certified Athletic Trainer, and a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist. He is a member of the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine and the United States Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Society.  He previously served on the Executive Board of the APTA Sports Physical Therapy Section and was a co-founder of the Sports Section’s Intercollegiate & Professional Sports Special Interest Group. 

Hardin was the recipient of the 1997 SPTS New Horizon Award, the 2003 SPTS Clinical Education Award, the 2010 SPTS Outstanding Service Award, and most recently, the 2013 SPTS Ron Peyton Award, the highest honor given by the Sports Physical Therapy Section.  He was a 2011 graduate of the Sports Management Institute.

Hardin was a member of the athletic training staff at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and served as an athletic trainer at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., in summer 2001.

He currently serves as a Principal Manuscript Reviewer for Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach and has published numerous peer-reviewed original manuscripts and textbook chapters in medical journals and textbooks.

Michael Harrington II, DPT, ATC, LAT

Associate Athletic Trainer

Michael Harrington II joined the Texas Athletics Sports Medicine staff in 2019. He serves as the associate athletic trainer and physical therapist for the Football program. Prior to his start with Texas Athletics, Michael worked in the outpatient physical therapy setting and completed his Sports and Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency with Houston Methodist, where he also interned with the Houston Texans.

He graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Texas State University in 2012 and received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from UT Health San Antonio in 2017. Michael has previously worked with Rice University Athletics programs, Houston Dynamo, Houston Dash and Houston Ballet organizations.

DeAnn Koehler, M.S., ATC, LAT, CSCS

Associate Athletic Trainer

DeAnn Koehler works primarily with the women’s volleyball program. Koehler brought an extensive background in basketball-related sports medicine and athletic training to UT.

She came to Texas in August of 1998 from the University of Georgia where she had served as head women’s athletic trainer since 1996. Prior to her Georgia tenure, Koehler was head men’s basketball athletic trainer/co-head athletic trainer at Louisiana State University from 1991-96 after serving as a graduate assistant athletic trainer during the 1990-91 year.

With UT Co-Director of Sports Medicine Tina Bonci and UT strength trainer Lisa Lowe, Koehler co-authored a chapter in the newly-released Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Principles and Practice 2003 textbook (by DeLee & Drez) entitled, “Functional Progression for the Prevention of ACL Injuries in Female Athletes”.

Prior to working at LSU, Koehler was an athletic trainer at the University of Kansas during the 1989-90 academic year and assistant athletic trainer and athletic training curriculum director at Salisbury (Md.) State University (1985-89).

Koehler is a 1983 graduate of Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas where she received her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in health and physical education with an emphasis in athletic training. She was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Fort Hays. Koehler then received her master’s degree in physical education/athletic training from Old Dominion in 1984.

Tom Mendez, M.S., ATC, LAT

Assistant Athletic Trainer

Tom Mendez enters his first season as Assistant Athletic Trainer for Texas Baseball in 2020. Mendez comes to the Longhorns after two years at UTRGV as the athletic trainer for baseball and volleyball.

While at UTRGV, Mendez worked with the Vaquero’s baseball program that had its winningest season since 1991, with a 34-21 record and won a share of the 2019 WAC Championship. He also served as the athletic trainer for the volleyball program that claimed the 2018 WAC regular season championship and the prior year advanced to the WAC Tournament final.

During the 2016 Major League Baseball season, Mendez served as an athletic trainer in the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs organization, working with players in Mesa, Ariz. and the Dominican Republic.

Leaf Morris

Athletic Trainer, 4th Season at Texas

Leaf Morris begins his fourth season as the athletic trainer for the men’s basketball program at The University of Texas. Prior to coming to Texas, the 35-year-old Morris spent seven years (2007-14) as an assistant athletic trainer at UCLA, including the last five with the men’s basketball program.

In addition to his duties with the Bruins’ men’s basketball team, Morris also served as the athletic trainer for the women’s water polo team. He served as the athletic trainer for the track and field and cross country teams during his first two years at UCLA (2007-08 and 2008-09).

Prior to his time at UCLA, Morris served as an athletic trainer at Sacramento State for one season (2006-07) while working with the Hornets’ football, men’s basketball and men’s and women’s track and field programs. Morris spent the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons as a graduate assistant at the University of Oregon, working with the Ducks’ softball and football teams.

A native of Kahoka, Missouri, Morris earned his master’s degree in athletic training from Oregon in 2006. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sports medicine and athletic training at Missouri State in 2004.

Terry Murphy, M.S., ATC, LAT

Assistant Athletic Trainer

Terry is the head athletic trainer for the men’s tennis and swimming & diving teams She served as the UT women’s basketball athletic trainer for five seasons. She joined UT’s staff in 2005 after serving as an assistant athletic trainer at the University of New Mexico for four years.

Murphy, a native of Hawaii, brings a varied and extensive background in sports medicine and athletic training to UT. At New Mexico, Murphy’s primary responsibilities and travel were with the nationally-ranked women’s basketball team, along with athletic training responsibilities with volleyball, football, and men’s golf. She also served as supervisor for the student athletic trainers.

Prior to her tenure at New Mexico, Murphy was a graduate assistant athletic trainer at Eastern New Mexico University for two years (1999-2001) where she worked with the women’s basketball, volleyball, baseball and cross country programs.

At both New Mexico and Eastern New Mexico, Murphy had extensive teaching experience in athletic training, weight training, and therapeutic rehabilitation.

Murphy graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in August of 1999 with a double major in kinesiology with an emphasis in athletic training, while her minor was in biology. While an undergraduate, she also served an internship in strength and conditioning with the NFL Denver Broncos.

Murphy then received her master of science degree in sports science from Eastern New Mexico University in 2001. She is an active and certified member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA).

Donald Nguyen, ATC, PT, MSPT, SCS, LAT 

Assistant Athletic Trainer

Donald Nguyen became an assistant athletic trainer with the Longhorns football team in 2010. Prior to his appointment with the football team, he served as the AT Program Clinical Coordinator and Assistant Athletic Trainer for Rowing for two years.

Nguyen is a former Student Athletic Trainer (2000-2004) at UT and earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. After graduating, Nguyen returned to UT as an intern to cover Softball. During his student years, he served two summer internships with the Houston Texans. After leaving UT, Nguyen attended Physical Therapy School at Texas State University in San Marcos and earned a Master of Science in Physical Therapy.

Sye Nobles, M.Ed., ATC, LAT

Assistant Athletic Trainer

Sye joined the Sports Medicine staff at The University of Texas in May 2019 as an Assistant Athletic Trainer.

He recently completed a graduate assistantship at the University of Arkansas, where he supported the football team and focused on the prevention, evaluation, management, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries. At the professional level, he gained valuable experience when he completed a season-long internship with the Dallas Cowboys during the 2016-17 campaign and a summer internship in 2015 with the then-St. Louis Rams.

Sye earned his graduate degree in Sport Management from Arkansas in 2019, and his undergraduate degree in Athletic Training from Texas State University in 2016. He is board certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), and he is licensed to practice in Texas and Arkansas.

Sye grew up in Southlake, Texas, with his younger sister, Sydney Nobles, who plays soccer for the Longhorns.

Adam Pecina, M.Ed., LAT, ATC, NASM-CES

Assistant Athletics Director, Sports Medicine;

Adam Pecina joined the Texas Athletics sports medicine staff in January 2018. Prior to Texas, Pecina served as the Director of Sports Medicine at the United States Naval Academy from 2015-18. At Navy, Pecina oversaw all aspects of medical care for 33 varsity sports with primary coverage of men’s basketball. He spent 2014-15 at the University of Georgia as an associate athletic trainer with men’s basketball. Prior to Georgia, he served as an assistant athletic trainer at the United States Naval Academy with primary coverage of the men’s basketball, men’s tennis, and squash teams from 2008-14. He spent the previous eight years at Wake Forest University, initially as a two-year athletic training intern with football then as a staff athletic trainer covering women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, cheer and dance.

Pecina was a member of the USA athletic training staff at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, and the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He also volunteered as an athletic trainer at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs in summer 2002.

Pecina earned his undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin in 1998 and a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Tyler in 2000. He is nationally certified (ATC) and state licensed (LAT) as an athletic trainer.

Pecina and his wife Kait have two daughters, Sofia and Josephine.

Brittany Santucci, MAT, ATC, LAT

Assistant Athletic Trainer, Rowing

Brittany Santucci joined the Texas Athletics Sports Medicine staff in March 2017 and is currently an assistant athletic trainer with Rowing.

Santucci came to Austin from the University of California, Berkeley where she spent time working with men’s and women’s cross country/track & field, varsity rugby, beach volleyball, and women’s rowing. She obtained her master’s degree in Athletic Training from the University of Arkansas (2015), and completed her bachelor’s degree in Integrative Biology, with an emphasis in human biology and health sciences, at the University of California, Berkeley (2012).

Throughout her experience as an athletic training student and certified athletic trainer, Brittany has worked with a variety of sports including rugby, football, women’s soccer, softball, beach volleyball, rowing, cross country/track & field and high school athletics.

Nicole Tira, M.Ed., ATC. LAT

Assistant Athletic Trainer

Nicole Tira joined UT Athletics in June 2019. She serves as an Assistant Athletic Trainer with track and field/cross country and spirit programs. Prior to coming to Texas, Nicole worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with The University of Arkansas track and field and cross-country teams from 2017-19. While there, she received a Masters of Education degree in Physical Education.

Nicole obtained a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from The Florida State University in 2017, at which time she also obtained certification as an athletic trainer upon successful completion of the National Athletic Trainer Association Board of Certification exam. She currently holds certification in Foundations in Dry Needling from Structure and Function Education.

Johnathan Tran

Assistant Athletic Trainer, Track and Field, and Cross Country

Tran joined the University of Texas Department of Athletics in January 2019 as an assistant athletic trainer for Track and Field and Cross Country. Prior to his current role, he spent the 2018 season with the Atlanta Falcons as a certified athletic training intern. He received his bachelor degree in exercise science and a master’s degree in athletic training from the University of Houston.

He is also a licensed massage therapist and instructor in the State of Texas. Before his college studies, he served in the United States Navy as a Hospital Corpsman working alongside sailors and marines. He was trained in combat emergency medicine, intravenous therapies, and musculoskeletal management and rehabilitation.

Tran is a nationally certified athletic trainer and licensed in the state of Texas. He is also a member of the National Athletic Training Association.

Heidi Wlezien, M.S., ATC, LAT

Associate Athletic Trainer 

Heidi Wlezien joined the Texas Athletics Sports Medicine staff in October of 2015 and works with the women’s basketball team. Prior to coming to the University of Texas, she worked with The Chicago Sky WNBA team for two seasons and for Illinois Bone & Joint Institute. She also spent two seasons at Eastern Illinois University as an Assistant Athletic Trainer with the women’s basketball, men’s soccer, women’s rugby, and men’s and women’s swimming teams. Wlezien completed her Master’s Degree in Sports Administration from Eastern Illinois University and her Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Training from Upper Iowa University. She currently holds certifications from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and the American Heart Association (AHA) and is SASTM and ART-upper extremity certified. A native of Cissna Park, Illinois, she and her husband Chris currently reside in Austin.

UT Athletics Team Physicians

James Bray, MD, CAQ Sports Medicine

Head Team Physician

James Bray, M.D., has been the head team physician since 2012 after having worked part-time for the University of Texas since 2007.  Bray oversees all medical aspects of all NCAA intercollegiate sports at the University of Texas.

Bray was in clinical medicine for 10 years prior to joining the University of Texas staff full time, with experience working in primary care and non-surgical orthopedics.  He has worked with athletes of all ages, including high school and all three levels of intercollegiate sports.  He has also served as Family Practice Department Head at the Shannon Clinic in San Angelo, elected to the Clinical Staff Organization of Scott and White, and been as Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Texas A&M Medical School.

Bray is Board Certified in Family Practice, with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine.  He is also an active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. 

Bray is originally from Guelph, Ontario, Canada, but came to Texas as quickly as he could, attending the University of Texas from 1990 – 1994.  After finishing medical school at the University of Texas Medical School in San Antonio in 1998, Bray went on to finish his Family Medicine Residency and Sports Medicine Fellowship at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro, NC.

Ashley Zapf, M.D., CAQSM, FAAPMR

Associate Team Physician

Ashley Zapf joined Texas Athletics in 2018 as the Associate Team Physician. She is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) and fellowship-trained and board-certified in Sports Medicine. 

Prior to joining Texas Athletics, Zapf served as a Sports Medicine physician the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Gulf Breeze, FL, the institute founded by renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews. Zapf is an active member of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM), and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPMR). Zapf has an extensive background in the treatment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions and is certified in electrodiagnostic testing (NCS/EMG).

A native of Woodbridge, VA, she attended the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA where she was a member of the UVA Women’s Ice Hockey and Crew teams.  She obtained her medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA and completed her internship in Internal Medicine from Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA. Zapf completed her residency training in PM&R at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine in Chicago, IL and her Sports Medicine fellowship at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL.