Miami Heat
Address: 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33132
Arena Name: FTX Arena
Arena Name: FTX Arena
Phone: (786) 777-1000
Wes Brown
Head Athletic Trainer
Education: UNC Wilmington (B.S.); Old Dominion University (M.S., Ed)Hometown: Jacksonville, NC
NBATA Member Since: 2014
Wes Brown has been an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Heat since 2014 after spending seven years at the University of Miami as associate athletic trainer. His duties include managing the day-to-day health of Heat players during the regular season, postseason and off-season.
During Brown’s tenure with the Hurricanes, he provided daily medical care for the men’s basketball program as well as the cheerleaders and Sunsations. He also served as an approved clinical instructor for Miami’s CAATE accredited Undergraduate Athletic Training Program.
Prior to his arrival at UM, Brown spent five years at UNC Wilmington where he served as the Director of Sports Medicine for three years. Brown is a certified performance enhancement specialist (PES), certified corrective exercise specialist (CES), certified Kinesio taping practitioner (CKTP) and a Level 2 fascial stretch therapist. He also taught classes as an instructor for the Kinesiology department.
A native of Jacksonville, N.C., Brown earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Training from UNC Wilmington in 2000, before earning his Master’s Degree in Athletic Training from Old Dominion University in 2002.
Brown and his wife, Alana, have one son, Kayden and one daughter, Ariana.
During Brown’s tenure with the Hurricanes, he provided daily medical care for the men’s basketball program as well as the cheerleaders and Sunsations. He also served as an approved clinical instructor for Miami’s CAATE accredited Undergraduate Athletic Training Program.
Prior to his arrival at UM, Brown spent five years at UNC Wilmington where he served as the Director of Sports Medicine for three years. Brown is a certified performance enhancement specialist (PES), certified corrective exercise specialist (CES), certified Kinesio taping practitioner (CKTP) and a Level 2 fascial stretch therapist. He also taught classes as an instructor for the Kinesiology department.
A native of Jacksonville, N.C., Brown earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Training from UNC Wilmington in 2000, before earning his Master’s Degree in Athletic Training from Old Dominion University in 2002.
Brown and his wife, Alana, have one son, Kayden and one daughter, Ariana.
Ian Lackey
Assistant Athletic Trainer
Education: Dakota Wesleyan University (B.S.); University of South Dakota (M.A.)Hometown: Lindsborg, KS
NBATA Member Since: 2022
A member of the NBATA since 2022, Ian Lackey currently serves as an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Miami Heat. He previously served four seasons as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Sioux Fall Skyforce--Miami’s G League affiliate.
Prior to becoming a member of the Heat sports medicine staff, Lackey worked as an athletic trainer for the University of South Dakota from 2014-2018. While at the University of South Dakota, his primary responsibility was with the USD football team, but had responsibilities with several of their other 16 sports and with a majority of the student athletes.
Lackey earned his Bachelor of Science degree in athletic training at Dakota Wesleyan University (2014), where he was also a student athlete on the DWU football team. He earned his Master of Arts degree in Kinesiology, with an exercise science emphasis, at the University of South Dakota (2016). In addition to being a certified athletic trainer, he also holds certification in dry needling, blood flow restriction therapy, and as a corrective exercise specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Lackey is a native of Lindsborg, KS, and he currently resides in North Bay Village, FL, with his fiancé Alyssa.
Prior to becoming a member of the Heat sports medicine staff, Lackey worked as an athletic trainer for the University of South Dakota from 2014-2018. While at the University of South Dakota, his primary responsibility was with the USD football team, but had responsibilities with several of their other 16 sports and with a majority of the student athletes.
Lackey earned his Bachelor of Science degree in athletic training at Dakota Wesleyan University (2014), where he was also a student athlete on the DWU football team. He earned his Master of Arts degree in Kinesiology, with an exercise science emphasis, at the University of South Dakota (2016). In addition to being a certified athletic trainer, he also holds certification in dry needling, blood flow restriction therapy, and as a corrective exercise specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Lackey is a native of Lindsborg, KS, and he currently resides in North Bay Village, FL, with his fiancé Alyssa.
Masahiro Takahagi
Assistant Athletic Trainer
Education: Musashi University (B.B.); Methodist University (B.S.); Auburn University (M.Ed.); Temple University (DAT)Hometown: Fukushima, Japan
NBATA Member Since: 2024
Masahiro "Hagi" Takahagi joined the Miami Heat as an Assistant Athletic Trainer in 2024 after spending five years at the Washington Commanders.
Before working for the Commanders, Takahagi spent eight years as an assistant athletic trainer for football and golf at Temple University. He served as a seasonal intern athletic trainer with the Washington Redskins during the 2011-2012 season, an off-season assistant for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2015-2019, and a summer intern for the New Orleans Saints from 2006-2008. He also had the opportunity to work in numerous athletic training settings including the U-19 Japan Lacrosse Men’s National Team; the U-19 Japan Football National Team; Spring Training with the Texas Rangers; the USA Sevens Rugby Men’s National Team; the Orlando Predators of the AFL; Louisiana Tech University Football; Auburn University Football; and the USOPC sports medicine volunteer program.
Takahagi is a certified athletic trainer and holds several other certifications such as National Registry Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (NRAEMT), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT), Performance Enhancement Specialist (NASM-PES), Corrective Exercise Specialist (NASM-CES), Certified Active Release Techniques (ART), Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner (CKTP), and Certified Graston Techniques Practitioner. He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association.
After graduating from Musashi University in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in business economics, Takahagi attended Methodist University where he received a bachelor's degree in athletic training and sports management in 2008. He also earned a master's degree in higher education administration with a concentration in sports management from Auburn University in 2011 while working as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with the 2010 BCS National Champion football team. In 2019, he earned his Doctor of Athletic Training degree from Temple University. He is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Acupuncture program at the Virginia University of Integrative Medicine.
Before working for the Commanders, Takahagi spent eight years as an assistant athletic trainer for football and golf at Temple University. He served as a seasonal intern athletic trainer with the Washington Redskins during the 2011-2012 season, an off-season assistant for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2015-2019, and a summer intern for the New Orleans Saints from 2006-2008. He also had the opportunity to work in numerous athletic training settings including the U-19 Japan Lacrosse Men’s National Team; the U-19 Japan Football National Team; Spring Training with the Texas Rangers; the USA Sevens Rugby Men’s National Team; the Orlando Predators of the AFL; Louisiana Tech University Football; Auburn University Football; and the USOPC sports medicine volunteer program.
Takahagi is a certified athletic trainer and holds several other certifications such as National Registry Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (NRAEMT), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT), Performance Enhancement Specialist (NASM-PES), Corrective Exercise Specialist (NASM-CES), Certified Active Release Techniques (ART), Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner (CKTP), and Certified Graston Techniques Practitioner. He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association.
After graduating from Musashi University in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in business economics, Takahagi attended Methodist University where he received a bachelor's degree in athletic training and sports management in 2008. He also earned a master's degree in higher education administration with a concentration in sports management from Auburn University in 2011 while working as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with the 2010 BCS National Champion football team. In 2019, he earned his Doctor of Athletic Training degree from Temple University. He is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Acupuncture program at the Virginia University of Integrative Medicine.