JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman Vice President for Athletics Matt Pope has announced the promotion of Kelsey Petz as the athletic departments new Director of Sports Medicine. 

Petz has worked her way up the ranks within Carson-Newman's athletic training staff, starting as a graduate assistant five years ago, before being hired as a full-time athletic trainer.  Now, she leads the department. 

"As a testament to all of her hard work and dedication, it is with great excitement that I announce the elevation of Kelsey Petz as our new Director of Sports Medicine/ Head Athletic Trainer," Pope said. "This is an exciting time for our Athletic Training unit and Kelsey has strongly demonstrated her professional skills and acumen to handle this role within our department. We are very happy for Kelsey and congratulations are due to her on this well-deserved promotion."

She served as the primary athletic trainer for volleyball, beach volleyball, and men's and women's golf at Carson-Newman as an Assistant Athletic Trainer from 2021 until this past fall. Petz made her way to Mossy Creek in 2019 as a graduate assistant athletic trainer with the volleyball teams. She received her Master's in Business Administration degree with a focus in Sports Management for C-N.

Petz came to Carson-Newman from Plymouth State. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and received honors from the athletic training degree program for her academic success. Petz played for the Panthers' DIII women's ice hockey team all four years of her undergraduate degree. She was a recipient of the Kerkor Kassabian Eastern Athletic Training Association Scholarship Award

She served the football, track and women's soccer, women's lacrosse and men's basketball programs at Plymouth State.

Petz is a member of the the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), the Southeast Athletic Trainers' Association (SEATA), and the Tennessee Athletic Trainers' Society (TATS). She is certified by the BOC and licensed to practice athletic training in Tennessee. Petz is also certified in CPR/AED and First Aid for the Professional Rescuer.

She is married to Spenser Petz. The couple resides in Talbott with their cat Knox.