2026 CAATE Award Winners
Winner: Sara Brown, MS, ATC
The Pete Koehneke Award was established in 2016 and honors an outstanding leader who has made significant, ongoing contributions of exceptional value to athletic training education and accreditation over a sustained period of service. Recipients of this award have a minimum of 20 years of service to AT education and accreditation. Nominees are evaluated on service to the profession and to the CAATE. The CAATE is pleased to announce Sara Brown as the 2026 Pete Koehneke Award recipient.
Sara Brown has devoted more than four decades to advancing the athletic training profession through exceptional leadership, innovation in education, and sustained service. As a longtime faculty member and Director of Athletic Training Programs at Boston University, Brown played a pivotal role in preparing generations of athletic trainers while helping guide the profession's transition to graduate professional education. Her commitment to excellence in athletic training education is reflected in her extensive teaching, scholarship, and mentorship of students and emerging educators. A nationally respected leader, Brown has influenced the direction of athletic training education at every level. She served as Chair of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Executive Committee for Education, led the development of landmark monographs on the future of athletic training education, and was the inaugural Chair of the CAATE Standards Committee. Her leadership helped shape accreditation standards, educational competencies, and professional expectations that continue to guide athletic training programs across the country.
Her impact extends beyond academia through her service to the Board of Certification (BOC), where she served on the Board of Directors, including terms as Vice President and President. She has contributed extensively to examination development, credentialing, accreditation review, and professional governance, helping strengthen the quality and credibility of the profession. Additionally, as a prolific author, presenter, and collaborator, she has advanced evidence-based practice and athletic training education through influential publications, textbooks, and national and international presentations. Her distinguished career has been recognized with many of the profession's highest honors, including the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, the NATA Sayers "Bud" Miller Distinguished Educator Award, the CAATE Bob and Lynn Carruthers Service Award, and the BOC Paul Grace Leadership Award. Through her visionary leadership, commitment to educational excellence, and unwavering service, Sara Brown has left an enduring legacy on the athletic training profession and the countless students, educators, and practitioners she has inspired.
Winner: William Biddington, EdD, R-ATC
The Bob & Lynn Caruthers Service Award is presented to an individual who exemplifies the character and professional excellence demonstrated by Bob & Lynn Caruthers throughout their careers. Both were known for their distinguished service to professional and specialized accreditation, as well as their commitment to supporting and advancing constituent institutions. Recipients of this award reflect a deep dedication to professional education, outstanding service, and a sustained record of excellence in athletic training accreditation and contributions to the CAATE.
The CAATE is pleased to announce William Biddington as this year’s recipient of the Bob & Lynn Caruthers Service Award. Biddington is an athletic trainer based in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, with a longstanding career dedicated to the prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses.
Throughout his career, Biddington has demonstrated a strong commitment to patient care, professional service, and the advancement of athletic training practice. His work reflects the core values of service, leadership, and excellence that define the Caruthers legacy.
Winner: Jim Reidy, MS, LAT, ATC
The President's Award is one of the highest honors presented by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). It recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service, leadership, and dedication to advancing the mission of the CAATE and the athletic training profession.
The CAATE is proud to announce Jim Reidy as the recipient of this year’s President’s Award. Jim currently serves as the Program Director of the Athletic Training Residency at St. Luke's University Health Network, where he has been instrumental in shaping and leading the residency program. Under his guidance, the program has thrived, providing high-quality education and mentorship to the next generation of athletic training professionals.
Jim’s impact extends far beyond his home institution. He has served on multiple CAATE committees, including the Residency and Fellowship Accreditation Council (RFAC), where he was appointed Chair in recognition of his expertise and leadership. Through these roles, he has contributed significantly to the development of accreditation standards, ensuring residency and fellowship programs meet rigorous educational and professional benchmarks. His efforts have directly advanced athletic training education and helped strengthen the profession nationwide.
This award honors Jim for his commitment to the CAATE’s mission, his leadership in developing residency and fellowship standards, and his dedication to supporting educational programs, peer review processes, and the growth of the athletic training profession.