Michael Kotelnicki, a native of Indiana, Pennsylvania, came to Shenandoah University in August 2008 to be the department's first full-time Head Athletic Trainer.

Kotelnicki came to SU with 15 years of varied athletic training experience.  A 1995 graduate from Slippery Rock University, Kotelnicki earned his Masters of Science degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

From IUP, he spent two years as the head trainer at Ferrum College before moving on to Division I American University as an assistant athletic trainer.

After seven years in the nation's capitol, Kotelnicki began a six-year stint as P.E. Instructor and assisant athletic trainer at WT Woodson H.S. in Fairfax, Virginia.

Kotelnicki has been involved in other aspects of Athletic Training during his career - he served as the medical liaison for the Champions League exhibition game between AC Milan and Barcelona soccer clubs in 2003 and was the head athletic trainer for the Johnstown Steal, a Frontier League Professional Baseball team in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  Additionally, Kotelnicki provided athletic training care for the Olympic wrestling Trials match between the US and Germany in 2005. 

Kotelnicki has been certified by the National Athletic Training Association and is licensed by the states of Virginia and Pennsylvania.