Northwest Missouri State Athletics

Kelly Quinlin is the head athletic trainer at Northwest Missouri State University.  She has been a part of the Northwest athletic training staff since 2003 and became the head athletic trainer in 2008. 

Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from Northwest in 2000 and her master's degree in athletic training from West Virginia University in 2003. While a graduate assistant, she worked at HealthWorks Rehab and Fitness in Morgantown and provided athletic trainer coverage to a local high school.  She was also an athletic training intern at Disney's Wide-World of Sports in Orlando, Florida, prior to graduate school.

Other than her administrative duties, Kelly works directly with women’s basketball and women’s golf. She was the primary athletic trainer for Bearcat football during 10 years of her current tenure and was able to be part of three national championship winning football teams during those years.

Kelly was the 2007 and 2008 recipient of the Tower Service Award, which recognizes Northwest faculty and staff for outstanding service and contribution to the university. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association recognized her in 2008 with the NATA College and University Athletic Trainers' Committee Above and Beyond Award for the care she provided a student-athlete after he sustained severe burns from an apartment fire.  That same committee named Kelly the 2017 DII Head Athletic Trainer of the Year and in 2018, she received the Young Alumni Award from Northwest Missouri State University. She is currently a member of the Athletic Trainer Advisory Committee for the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts and is the Missouri State representative for the Intercollegiate Council for Sports Medicine.

Kelly’s enjoys being an active member of St. Gregory’s Catholic Church and serving on the Maryville Parks and Recreation Board.  A native of Maryville, she is married to Joe Quinlin, the Bearcat head strength and conditioning coach, and they have four children: son Derek and daughters Kori, Austyn, and Kendyl.