DALLAS, Texas –
East Texas Baptist was named the 2024-25 American Southwest Conference Athletic Training Staff Department of the Year, selected by the league’s Head Athletic Trainers in an announcement on Wednesday.
The Athletic Training Staff of the Year Award recognizes league member staffs that are judged by their peers to provide a high level of service and professionalism to the student-athletes, their school and the conference.
East Texas Baptist is led by
Marcus Holliday, who is the Director of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer. Holliday completed his 13
th year at ETBU and eighth as the head athletic trainer. His primary responsibility is covering the Tigers football team and Baseball Team while overseeing the ETBU Athletic Training Department.
Also on the ETBU staff are athletic trainers:
Michael VanGlider, Rebecca Wilson, Katie Buhnerkempe, Joshua Britnell and
Jonathan Luce.
VanGlider completed his eighth season at East Texas Baptist and was recently promoted to Associate Head Athletic Trainer in the summer of 2024. He works with Volleyball, Men’s Basketball, Cheerleading and Beach Volleyball.
Wilson completed her fourth year as an athletic trainer at ETBU. She works with Hockey, Men’s Lacrosse and POM.
Buhnerkempe completed her third year as an athletic trainer at ETBU. Her primary responsibilities are with Women’s Soccer, Women’s Basketball and Acrobatics & Tumbling.
Britnell completed his first year with ETBU this season. He works with Men’s Soccer, Softball and Men’s and Women’s Golf.
Luce also completed his first year as an athletic trainer at ETBU. He worked as a student athletic trainer for the Tigers for the four years prior. Luce works with Cross Country, Track & Field and Tennis.
In addition to supporting the East Texas Baptist student-athletes, the Athletic Training Staff was the main contact for Athletic Training services for any hosted American Southwest Conference Championships. East Texas Baptist hosted the 2024 ASC Cross Country Championships, 2024 ASC Volleyball Championship, 2024-25 ASC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, 2025 ASC Baseball Championship and 2025 ASC Softball Championship. ETBU also hosted the first two rounds of the 2024-25 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship, the 2025 NCAA DIII Baseball Championship Regional Round and the 2025 NCAA DIII Softball Championship Regional and Super Regional Rounds.
"Congratulations to the entire ETBU Athletic Training Staff on a very deserving honor," Senior Vice President for Campus Life, Ryan Erwin said. "I could not be more proud of our athletic training staff for being named ASC Athletic Training Staff of the Year. Their commitment to the health, safety, and performance of over 725 student-athletes is second to none. Day in and day out, they exhibit servant leadership, while working tirelessly behind the scenes and this recognition is a testament to their dedication, expertise, and the vital role they play in our athletic success. Their hard work and commitment to excellence allows ETBU to continue to compete at a high level and allows the University to continually host conference and NCAA post-season tournaments. Congratulations to an outstanding team – this honor is well deserved.”
This is the fourth time East Texas Baptist will receive Athletic Training Department of the Year since the ASC moved from East and West Division awards to a single award in 2012-13. ETBU won most recently in 2022-23.
All-Time Award Recipients
Year Institution
| 2024-25 |
East Texas Baptist |
| 2023-24 |
Hardin-Simmons |
| 2022-23 |
East Texas Baptist |
| 2021-22 |
Sul Ross State University |
| 2020-21 |
Belhaven |
| 2019-20 |
McMurry |
| 2018-19 |
East Texas Baptist |
| 2017-18 |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| 2016-17 |
Louisiana College, UT Dallas (co) |
| 2015-16 |
East Texas Baptist |
|
| 2014-15 |
UT Tyler |
|
| 2013-14 |
Concordia Texas |
|
| 2012-13 |
Ozarks, UT Dallas (co) |
|
East Division |
West Division |
| 2011-12 |
Louisiana College |
Schreiner |
| 2010-11 |
Ozarks |
Sul Ross State |
| 2009-10 |
LeTourneau |
Hardin-Simmons |
| 2008-09 |
Mississippi College, UT Dallas (co) |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| 2007-08 |
Ozarks |
Howard Payne |
| 2006-07 |
UT Dallas |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
| 2005-06 |
East Texas Baptist |
Hardin-Simmons |
| 2004-05 |
UT Dallas |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
The ASC moved from East and West Division awards to a single award in the 2012-13 academic year.