COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs and South Dakota Mines head athletic trainers, Ashley Klug and Kaleb Birney, respectively, have been selected by their peers as the 2025-26 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Wayne Barger Athletic Trainers of the Year, the conference announced Thursday.
The Wayne Barger Athletic Trainer of the Year award was established in 2017-18 and recognizes former Fort Lewis College Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Sports Medicine, Wayne Barger. Recipients of this honor demonstrate commitment to ideals set forth by the RMAC and member institutions. They act ethically to ensure proper health and safety for the student-athletes under their care. Each head athletic trainer from around the league submits one vote for this award and is not permitted to vote for themselves.
Birney completed his fifth season as Director of Sports Medicine, Performance, and Welfare at South Dakota Mines, where he oversees the physical and mental well-being of student-athletes across all 13 Hardrocker varsity programs. In this role, he has fostered a strong partnership with Rapid City Monument Health, enhancing both the quality of medical care and the overall student-athlete experience. Birney's commitment to excellence in athletic training has earned widespread recognition throughout his career. In 2020, he was named the Frontier Conference Athletic Trainer of the Year and received the New Horizons Award from the Northwest Athletic Trainers Association.
"I am truly honored to receive the Wayne Barger Athletic Trainer of the Year Award," Birney said. "This honor is a reflection of the incredible staff I work alongside every day. This award doesn't happen without Hannah, Bekah and Kaitlin. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our student-athletes and contribute to their overall well-being and to represent South Dakota Mines and Monument Health."
Klug and Birney will be honored at the 2026 RMAC Hall of Fame Ceremony and Awards Banquet on Thursday, July 9, at the COS City Hub in Colorado Springs. Doors will open at 5 p.m. MT, and the induction and awards ceremonies will follow promptly at 6 p.m.
Tickets for the 2026 RMAC Hall of Fame Ceremony and Awards Banquet are available for purchase at
RMACSports.org/Tickets.
| Previous Recipients |
| 2017-18 |
Wayne Barger, Fort Lewis |
| 2018-19 |
Don Watt, Chadron State |
| 2019-20 |
Tony Silva, Black Hills State |
| 2020-21 |
Jennifer McIntosh, Colorado School of Mines |
| 2021-22 |
Rick Hackford, Westminster |
| 2022-23 |
Tony Silva, Black Hills State |
| 2023-24 |
Stephen Mundee, Colorado Mesa & Janine Pleau, Western Colorado |
| 2024-25 |
Blake Pollema, Colorado Christian |
| 2025-26 |
Ashley Klug, UCCS & Kaleb Birney, South Dakota Mines |
