Clarksville, Ark.-The athletic training staff at the University of the Ozarks and the University of Texas at Dallas have been named by their peers as co-winners of the 2012-13 American Southwest Conference Athletic Training Staff of the Year Awards.

Chad Floyd is the head athletic trainer at U of O. It is the third time he has won the award from the conference. ASC Commissioner Amy Carlton will present the award February 13 at U of  O's home basketball game against Mary Hardin-Baylor.

The ASC Athletic Training Staff of the Year award is presented by the conference following voting by the membership's athletic training staffs. All full-time athletic training staff members must be in good standing with professional organizations and be either NATA or state licensed, and the head athletic trainer must have been at the institution for a minimum of two years to be considered for the award.

"I am very happy to see Chad earn this accolade," U of O Athletic Director Jimmy Clark said. "Our coaching staff understands the outstanding job he does, and I am glad his conference peers recognize it too. Chad deals with more than 170 student-athletes in an efficient and organized manner. He is as good as there is. And, he is good role model for our student-athletes."

Floyd, a native of Ozark, Ark., is in his thirteenth year at U of O. He holds state, district and national training certifications and has an Arkansas teaching certificate in Health and Physical Education. He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, Southwest Athletic Trainers Association and Arkansas Athletic Trainers Association. He currently serves on the Arkansas Athletic Trainers Association scholarship committee.

"It is great to be recognized by my peers," said Floyd. "I really don't feel like I'm doing anything different from what other athletic trainers are doing. It is a lot of hard work, but very rewarding. I enjoy coming to work because I'm helping people that are motivated to get better. And, our coaches and athletes are very understanding of our situation with one athletic trainer."

Prior to U of O, Floyd worked in the Minnesota Twins minor league system, and at Arkansas Tech University and University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.

In 2008, Floyd was named the winner of the university's Alvin C. Broyles Outstanding Professional Staff Award, which is given to a member of the professional staff who has demonstrated exemplary dedication, professionalism and ability in his or her position.

He and his wife, Mary, are the parents of one son.