Lyn Nakagawa joined the University of Hawai‘i Athletics Department in October 2007.
Nakagawa holds the position of Assistant Athletics Director for Athletic Training and Student Athlete Well-Being since 2021. In her role, Nakagawa is responsible for coordinating a multi-disciplinary health care program for student-athletes including athletic trainers, sports medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons, mental health counselors, and other allied health care professionals. She is also responsible for overseeing all aspects of student-athlete well-being including strength and conditioning and sports science. She currently works directly with soccer and sailing programs at UH.
Prior to her current role, Nakagawa served as the Head Athletic Trainer at UH from 2019-21, and Assistant Athletic Trainer from 2007-19. During these years, she worked with various teams including men’s basketball and football. Nakagawa previously worked at Oregon State University from 2000-07.
Nakagawa has been very active in athletic training professional organizations and has recently served on the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Board of Directors from 2018-23. She has also served on the Far West Athletic Trainers’ Association Managing Board from 2014-23. Prior to that, she served on the Hawai‘i Athletic Trainers’ Association Managing Board from 2011-13. Other service positions she has held include the NATA Ethnic Diversity Advisory Council, NATA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Task Force, NATA Foundation Scholarship Committee, and the NATA Comprehensive Internationalization Self-Study Task Force.
Nakagawa received the Far West Athletic Trainers’ Association Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award in 2023. She was also recognized with the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa Presidential Award for Outstanding Service in 2021 and the Hawai‘i Athletic Trainers’ Association Ke Alaka?i Nui (Excellence in Leadership) Athletic Trainer Award in 2018.
The Pearl City, O‘ahu native earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from the University of Puget Sound in 2000. Nakagawa also received a Master of Science degree in Health and Human Performance from Oregon State University in 2002.
Nakagawa is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, the Far West Athletic Trainers’ Association, and the Hawai‘i Athletic Trainers’ Association. She is also a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
