Jim Gillen is among the tops of his profession carrying “Athletic Trainer of the Year” honors from two professional sports’ athletic training organizations. During his tenure as head athletic trainer of the Nuggets that began in 1991, he received the “Joe O’Toole NBA Athletic Trainer of the Year” award for the 2001-2002 and the 2008 season. Before coming to the NBA hardwood, Gillen was assistant athletic trainer for the National Football League’s Denver Broncos from 1986-91, where he and Steve Antonopulos received the “NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year” award in 1987.

He was honored to serve as athletic trainer for the U.S. Men’s Basketball Team at the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis. Gillen’s NBA peers selected him to serve as Western Conference athletic trainer at 2003 NBA All-Star Game and the NBA All-Star Weekend in 1995.

A past chairman of the NBATA, Gillen is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, American College of Sports Medicine and is a past president of the Colorado Athletic Trainers’ Association.

After receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education from Fort Hayes State University (Kan.), he spent 12 years as an athletic trainer and teacher in the high school setting, including Overland (Colo.) High School and Aurora (Colo.) Central High School.

The native of Meade, Kan., enjoys wordworking, physical fitness activities and following NASCAR. Jim and his wife Dawn have a daughter Jamee Ulitzky her husband Josh and their sons Joey and Jordan; son J.D. his wife Emily and daughters Alexsis and Aspen; daughter Amanda and her husband J and daughter Rachel. They reside in Centennial, CO.

Matt Friia is entering his sixth year with the Denver Nuggets as an Assistant Athletic Trainer and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach.

Friia got his start with the Nuggets working alongside Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Steve Hess, assisting him with the successful execution of the entire conditioning and nutritional program for the team, as well as working on rehabilitation with injured athletes.

As an Assistant Athletic Trainer, Friia works with Head Athletic Trainer Jim Gillen, helping him in the athletic training room with the treatment and rehabilitation injuries.

Prior to joining the Nuggets, Friia received a dual bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College in athletic training and sports medicine. Throughout his time at Ithaca College, he worked as an Athletic Trainer with many of the sports teams such as men’s basketball and men’s football.

A native of Ithaca, N.Y., Friia resides south of Denver with his wife, Carey.

Dan Shimensky begins his second season with the Denver Nuggets as Assistant Athletic Trainer/Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach.

Dan’s duties include helping Head Athletic Trainer Jim Gillen in various capacities within the athletic training room and on team road trips.

As an assistant strength and conditioning coach, Dan is responsible for helping Strength Coach Steve Hess in the successful running of the entire conditioning and nutritional program for the Denver Nuggets.

A graduate of Central Washington University, Dan received his Master’s degree in Exercise Science. During that time, he was the graduate assistant athletic trainer for football and men’s basketball. Also, he is certified as a Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) by the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

Prior to his tenure at Central Washington, Dan completed his undergraduate work at the University of Utah, receiving his degree in Exercise Science with an emphasis in Athletic Training, where he worked with football and women’s gymnastics.

While at Utah, Dan also had the opportunity to be involved in several internships with several NBA organizations including the Miami Heat (Summer, 2003), the Nuggets (Fall, 2004) and the Seattle Sonics (Summers of 2004, 05, 06).   Dan's father Mike was a longtime NBA athletic trianer with tenures with the Seattle Supersonics, Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers.

 

Dan is single and resides in Denver.