John Carroll University Athletics

Don McPhillips enters his 38th year as the Head Athletic Trainer of the John Carroll University Athletic Training Department for the 2025-26 school year.  

He was hired in the summer of 1988 and has since overseen all John Carroll varsity athletic teams and junior varsity sports in his tenure. McPhillips primarily works with the volleyball and softball teams.

McPhillips graduated from Youngstown State University in 1986. After graduation, he accepted a summer internship and helped with pre-season training for the San Francisco 49ers.

After the internship, McPhillips entered into the Masters program at Ohio University and received his degree in 1988. While at OU, he was head athletic trainer for Rio Grande University from 1987-88.

McPhillips was a 2018 JCU Hall of Fame inductee. Throughout his time at JCU, he has overseen over 250 student trainers as well as 15,000 student-athletes. He has also taught classes for the department of Exercise Science since the early 2000's.

McPhillips is a Licensed Athletic Trainer by the State of Ohio, as well as a certified Athletic Trainer by the NATABOC. In 2013, McPhillips was a JCU Silver Circle Award winner for 25 years of service to John Carroll University.

Originally from Poland, Ohio, McPhillips is married to his wife, Kathy (Frickman), a 1996 JCU alumnus. They have three children, Haleigh, Jack, and Samantha and reside in Beachwood.