Oklahoma City – The Sooner Athletic Conference is proud to announce that Dr. Gary Turbak of College of the Ozarks has been named the 2024-25 Athletic Trainer of the Year as voted on by his peers in the conference.

Winners of each conference Athletic Trainer of the Year are sent to the NAIA Awards Committee for consideration for the national Athletic Trainer of the Year honor, which will be announced in September on NAIA National Awards Day.

Turbak has served as the Head Athletic Trainer at the College of the Ozarks for 30 years. In addition to his training duties, Dr. Turbak serves as a professor and departmental leader in the Physical Education Department, as an academic and work-study advisor, and has served on numerous academic committees. Dr. Turbak puts in countless hours to ensure the health, well-being, and treatment of the athletes at College of the Ozarks is of the highest quality. He also equips future athletic trainers through the College’s Allied Health program and serves as the athletic trainer for the School of the Ozarks Preparatory High School.

Dr. Turbak has been very active on the national level, serving as the head trainer/medical coordinator for the NAIA Men's Division II National Basketball Championship and for the NCCAA Women’s Division I Volleyball and Men’s and Women’s Division I National Basketball Championship Tournaments. He has been a leader in NAIA-ATA over the years, serving as vice president, president-elect, president, and chairman of the board. Dr. Turbak has received numerous local and national accolades for his efforts in the area of athletic training.

“I am excited to learn that Gary Turbak has been named the SAC Athletic Trainer of the Year,” stated College of the Ozarks Athletic Director Steve Shepherd. “His commitment to the care of our athletes, his teaching excellence, and his professional involvement make him a great selection. We are blessed to have Gary Turbak as a valued member of our college team and could not be prouder of him.”