Symbolized with a three-leaf clover, the Tim Kerin Award for Excellence celebrates the memory of Tim Kerin and is given to one athletic trainer annually who embodies Tim's finest qualities: service, dedication and integrity. In addition to being honored during General Session at the NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo, the winner receives:
- Travel and accommodations to the annual NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo
- $2,500 donation to charity of the winner's choice
- $2,500 for the award recipient
- Plaque presented during General Session at the NATA Clinical Symposia & AT Expo
Criteria:
- Active certified Athletic Trainer and a current member of NATA
- NPI #
- BOC certified
- Previously or currently works as a full-time athletic trainer (in any health care setting) for at least 10 years
- Currently holds or has held a leadership position within NATA at the National or District level
- Individuals cannot self-nominate
Nominations will be accepted from August 1 – October 1.
What this Award Means to Former Recipients
“I wanted to be like Tim Kerin - he exlempified everything that we want in young athletic trainers and athletic trainers in general...the Tim Kerin Award is the only award that is displayed prominently on the dresser.”- Ronnie Barnes, New York Giants Sr. VP of Medical Services, 1998 Award Recipient
“It is the one I save because it's important to me - it speaks differently to me from all the awards that I have won...Being a good leader, we need to be reminded that at the core of us, the qualities of Tim Kerin is who we really need to be."- Julie Max, Assistant Athletics Director, Sports Medicine, Cal State Fullerton Athletics, 2009 Award Recipient
View video clips of former award winners.
About Tim Kerin
Tim Kerin is remembered by many for his distinguished career as well as his service to his community, university and profession. He served as the Head Athletic Trainer at the University of Tennessee for 15 years until his sudden death from an aortic aneurysm in August, 1992.
Tim Kerin served on the NATA Program and Convention Committees from 1979-1991, was a founding member of Knoxville’s Metropolitan Drug Commission, for which he served as president from 1987-1989, and chaired the SEATA Awards Committee from 1988-1992. He received a Chancellor’s Citation from the University of Tennessee in 1990, and the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association Award of Merit in 1992.
In 1993, Kerin was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame. Later that year the University of Tennessee officially dedicated “The Tim Kerin Training Room” in his honor and memory. In 2001, Tim Kerin’s memory was again honored when he was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
Past Tim Kerin Award Recipients
- 2024: Lyn Nakagawa
- 2023: Frank Walters
- 2022: MaryBeth Horodyski
- 2020: RT Floyd
- 2018 Robert Kersey
- 2017 Mark Laursen
- 2016 Jeff Stone
- 2015 Sally Nogle
- 2014 Ron Courson
- 2013 Kevin O’Neill
- 2012 Gene Monohan, ATC
- 2011 Sandy Miller, MEd, ATC
- 2010 Steve Bair
- 2009 Julie Max
- 2008 Ron Culp
- 2007 Lindsy McLean
- 2006 Dean Weber
- 2005 Tom Abdenour
- 2004 Denny Miller
- 2003 Karen Toburen
- 2002 Dean Kleinschmidt
- 2001 Jerry Rhea
- 2000 Chris Patrick
- 1999 Fred Hoover
- 1998 Ronnie Barnes
- 1997 Marje Albohm
- 1996 Leroy Mullins
- 1995 Otho Davis
- 1994 George Sullivan