Thomas Dellinger returns to Banner Elk after serving as Head Athletic Trainer at Montreat College from March 2022 to June 2023 where he oversaw the daily operations of the athletic training room including the maintenance of all treatment modalities, responsibility of overseeing the athletic training budget along with ordering supplies and overseeing the hydrotherapy room.
 
"I am grateful for the opportunity to be back home and be a part of an amazing staff that's eager to elevate Lees-McRae Athletics," said Dellinger.
 
Dellinger was elevated to head athletic trainer after serving as an assistant athletic trainer at Montreat from December 2019 to April 2022. Dellinger's primary sports at Montreat as head athletic trainer were baseball, men's basketball, clay and target, cheer, dance, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's tennis, and men's and women's wrestling.
 
Dellinger joined Appalachian State in June 2018 and managed rehabilitation and prevention of athletic injuries of his primary sports of football, cheer, and wrestling.