Apr. 27, 2026
Scott Byrd, director of sports medicine outreach for Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic (KOC), has earned the 2026 East Tennessee Distinguished Service Award from the Tennessee Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (TIAAA) for his service and dedication to athletic programs.
TIAAA officials cited Byrd’s commitment to educational-based athletics, professional development and the community.
“Scott’s tireless efforts in pursuing professional development, increasing organizational growth and leading on the state and national levels have not gone unnoticed by the TIAAA or by his peers,” said Benji Gray, awards chair for the TIAAA. “This is a well-deserved acknowledgement for Mr. Scott Byrd because of exceptional leadership.”
Byrd received the award during the Tennessee Athletic Directors Conference in Knoxville on April 12.
“Athletic administrators see firsthand the effort that goes into building a top-notch sports medicine program,” Byrd said. “Winning this award is a tremendous honor and reflects KOC’s commitment to sports medicine. My main takeaway is to never stop loving your job. It’s all for the student-athletes.”
The association bestows the honor each year to an individual or organization in Tennessee who has served interscholastic athletics in an exemplary way.
“We congratulate Scott on this well-earned distinction,” said Dr. Matthew Rappé, a KOC sports medicine surgeon. “Scott has made significant contributions to sports medicine outreach in East Tennessee and has worked diligently to place KOC athletic trainers in high schools all across our region. We are thrilled to see his efforts recognized.”
KOC’s sports medicine outreach includes a longstanding commitment to serving athletes at every level, with KOC athletic trainers and physicians serving area high school teams as well as post-secondary institutions, including the University of Tennessee, Carson-Newman University, Maryville College, Lincoln Memorial University and Johnson University. KOC providers also support professional teams including the Knoxville Smokies, One Knoxville SC and the Knoxville Ice Bears.
For more information about sports medicine outreach efforts, visit kocortho.com.
About Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic
Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic is the region’s largest provider of orthopaedic care and services with more than 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 1,000 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 for 2025 from Knoxville News Sentinel based on employee surveys measuring company culture. For more information, visit kocortho.com.
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