Vanderbilt Head Athletic Trainer Tom “Boz” Bossung (left) and Lindsy McLean (right). 2018.
J. Lindsy McLean’s, BA’60, Vanderbilt journey began when a newspaper article for a sports injuries class taught by legendary Vanderbilt athletic trainer Joe Worden caught his eye. While only a Hillsboro High School junior — whose experience included “carrying the first aid kit for the football team” — he received Worden’s blessing to attend. That experience, shaped by Worden’s mentorship, made Vanderbilt the clear choice when it came time for McLean to choose a college.
At a time when no formal athletic training curriculum existed at Vanderbilt, McLean carved his own path — taking physical science courses and working under Worden as a student athletic trainer. That initiative became a defining trait, leading to a distinguished career spanning collegiate athletics and the NFL, including 24 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. Reflecting on those years, he credits Worden’s early mentorship and Vanderbilt’s hands-on learning environment with shaping his education and belief in opportunity.
McLean put that belief into action by establishing the Athletic Training Room Hall of Fame Scholarship, the Athletic Training Room Endowment and investing in the future of Vandy United Football. His bequest provides need-based support for student athletic trainers, sustains a modern, state-of-the-art training facility at Vanderbilt and fuels the growth of the new Football Experience Center. McLean’s philanthropy expands access to education, mentorship and the chance to discover a calling.
Named in honor of National Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame inductees Joe Worden and John “Jack” Redgren, the scholarship connects today’s Commodores to the legacy they inherit. As McLean reflects, “Some things don’t change. An athlete gets hurt, and somebody’s going to take care of them. I learned how to do that at Vanderbilt.”
Through his bequest, McLean ensures future generations of athletic trainers have the same chance he did. His hope is simple: to see young people thrive in the same environment that shaped his life and to inspire others to invest in that enduring impact.
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