University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee’s Dr. Greg Mathien Named 2025 SEC Team Physician of the Year for Orthopedics
January 07, 2025 | General, Sports Medicine
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Athletics' senior Orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Greg Mathien, earned the 2025 SEC Team Physician of the Year – Orthopedics award. He has served as an orthopedic team physician for the Vols and Lady Vols for 33 years.
The SEC Team Physician of the Year award began in 2003 and is voted on annually by the SEC Directors of Sports Medicine. The award rotates between an Orthopedic Team Physician and a Primary Care Team Physician every other year. The winners are recognized by the Southern Orthopedic Association (SOA) at their annual meeting as well as by the SEC Sports Medicine staffs and team physicians at their annual conference.
Tennessee is one of only four SEC schools to have three team physicians win the award in its 23-year history. Dr. William Youmans won the Orthopedic award in 2005, and Dr. Chris Klenck won the Primary Care award in 2022.
"Dr. Mathien is extremely deserving of this award, which recognizes his years of dedication and service to our student-athletes and the athletic department," Senior Associate Athletics Director of Sports Medicine & Sports Performance Jason McVeigh said. "He is not only an expert in his field, but he has served as a tremendous resource and mentor to me and all of our athletic trainers for his entire career. Working in sports medicine in the SEC is a challenging career, and without team physicians like Dr. Mathien, our staff would not be able to provide our student-athletes with the level of care required to help them meet their goals."
In 1991, Dr. Mathien came to Knoxville for the Sports Medicine Fellowship under the direction of Dr. Youmans. During his fellowship, Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic (KOC) recruited him to remain as a surgeon and help expand the KOC sports medicine program, enhancing the care of injured athletes. This has evolved into an extensive program placing certified athletic trainers in Knox County high schools. In developing this program, he received the Tennessee Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Distinguished Service Award in 2011.
A native of Buffalo, New York, Mathien currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer for KOC and is the Senior Team Orthopaedic Surgeon for the University of Tennessee athletic programs. The UT Lettermen's "T" Club has given him Honorary Membership status. He has also operated on and cared for many Olympic medalists and professional athletes. He plays an active role in national sports medicine research, including the Multicenter ACL Revision Study.
"I am so pleased that Dr. Mathien is this year's SEC Team Physician of the Year," said Klenck, Tennessee's head team physician. "He is very deserving of this honor, and I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him throughout my career. He has played such an incredible role in the lives of the young men and women who have represented the University of Tennessee, and I am so thankful that he is a Volunteer."
Dr. Mathien is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery with a certificate of added qualification in sports medicine. He is a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
He attended State University of New York in Syracuse for both his undergraduate and medical degrees. He remained in Syracuse to complete his surgical internship and orthopaedic surgery residency at SUNY Health Science Center.
The SEC Team Physician of the Year award began in 2003 and is voted on annually by the SEC Directors of Sports Medicine. The award rotates between an Orthopedic Team Physician and a Primary Care Team Physician every other year. The winners are recognized by the Southern Orthopedic Association (SOA) at their annual meeting as well as by the SEC Sports Medicine staffs and team physicians at their annual conference.
Tennessee is one of only four SEC schools to have three team physicians win the award in its 23-year history. Dr. William Youmans won the Orthopedic award in 2005, and Dr. Chris Klenck won the Primary Care award in 2022.
"Dr. Mathien is extremely deserving of this award, which recognizes his years of dedication and service to our student-athletes and the athletic department," Senior Associate Athletics Director of Sports Medicine & Sports Performance Jason McVeigh said. "He is not only an expert in his field, but he has served as a tremendous resource and mentor to me and all of our athletic trainers for his entire career. Working in sports medicine in the SEC is a challenging career, and without team physicians like Dr. Mathien, our staff would not be able to provide our student-athletes with the level of care required to help them meet their goals."
In 1991, Dr. Mathien came to Knoxville for the Sports Medicine Fellowship under the direction of Dr. Youmans. During his fellowship, Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic (KOC) recruited him to remain as a surgeon and help expand the KOC sports medicine program, enhancing the care of injured athletes. This has evolved into an extensive program placing certified athletic trainers in Knox County high schools. In developing this program, he received the Tennessee Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Distinguished Service Award in 2011.
A native of Buffalo, New York, Mathien currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer for KOC and is the Senior Team Orthopaedic Surgeon for the University of Tennessee athletic programs. The UT Lettermen's "T" Club has given him Honorary Membership status. He has also operated on and cared for many Olympic medalists and professional athletes. He plays an active role in national sports medicine research, including the Multicenter ACL Revision Study.
"I am so pleased that Dr. Mathien is this year's SEC Team Physician of the Year," said Klenck, Tennessee's head team physician. "He is very deserving of this honor, and I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him throughout my career. He has played such an incredible role in the lives of the young men and women who have represented the University of Tennessee, and I am so thankful that he is a Volunteer."
Dr. Mathien is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery with a certificate of added qualification in sports medicine. He is a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
He attended State University of New York in Syracuse for both his undergraduate and medical degrees. He remained in Syracuse to complete his surgical internship and orthopaedic surgery residency at SUNY Health Science Center.
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