Written by 
Dr. Greg Mathien, senior orthopaedic surgeon for Tennessee Athletics and sports medicine specialist at Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic (KOC), has been named the 2025 Team Physician of the Year for Orthopedics by the Southeastern Conference (SEC). He is the third KOC physician to be honored by the SEC.
“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Mathien’s achievement and the exceptional care he continues to provide to UT student-athletes and patients from all walks of life,” KOC CEO Pete Pearson said. “His commitment, expertise and longstanding service to Tennessee Athletics reflect our commitment at KOC to improve lives through patient-centered care.”
Tennessee is one of just four SEC schools to have three team physicians win conference awards in its 23-year history and all three have been with Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic. Dr. Chris Klenck earned the SEC’s Primary Care award in 2022, while retired Dr. William Youmans received the Orthopedic award in 2005. Dr. Mathien is in good company with this year’s orthopaedic honor after serving 33 years as team physician for the Vols and Lady Vols.
“Dr. Mathien is extremely deserving of this award, which recognizes his years of dedication and service to our student-athletes and the athletic department,” said Jason McVeigh, senior associate athletics director of sports medicine & sports performance for Tennessee Athletics. “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.”
The award is voted on annually by the SEC Directors of Sports Medicine and is a prestigious distinction in the field.
“It is an honor to be recognized amongst the top physicians in the SEC,” Dr. Mathien said. “This recognition reflects the standard of excellence exhibited by the entire KOC team and the University of Tennessee athletes we serve.”
Dr. Mathien has treated numerous Olympic medalists and professional athletes and remains actively engaged in national sports medicine research, including the Multicenter ACL Revision Study. The UT Lettermen’s “T” Club has awarded Dr. Mathien honorary membership status.
For 75 years, KOC has earned the trust of athletes, coaches and families. The clinic continues to provide expert care to UT athletes across all sports and remains a vital part of the university.
KOC, a leader in orthopaedic care in East Tennessee, is known for its patient-centered approach, offering quality care to student-athletes, weekend warriors and anyone in between.
For more information about Dr. Mathien and other KOC physicians, visit kocortho.com
About Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic
Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic is the region’s largest provider of orthopaedic care and services with more 520,000 patient visits annually at 12 East Tennessee locations. As a network of convenient and accessible clinics that provide exceptional orthopaedic care across the region, KOC comprises 10 office locations; two ambulatory surgery centers; and additional services including urgent care, MRI, orthotics and bracing, physical and occupational therapy and sports medicine outreach. KOC’s more than 150 orthopaedic experts, supported by over 900 team members, provide a superior quality of diagnostic proficiency; when needed, an unmatched level of surgical expertise; and a patient-centered approach to deliver unparalleled personalized treatment. The network recently earned a “Top Workplace” ranking from Knoxville News Sentinel two years in a row based on employee surveys measuring company culture. For more information, visit kocortho.com.