COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Medicine Ashley Klug has been named the 2025-26 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Wayne Barger Athletic Trainer of the Year, the conference office announced Thursday. Klug shares the honor with South Dakota Mines' Kaleb Birney as co-recipients of the award.
"Being selected by my fellow athletic trainers makes this recognition especially meaningful, as it reflects a shared commitment across the RMAC to ethical practice and the health and well-being of every student-athlete we serve," said Klug. "It is truly an honor to serve UCCS student athletes. This award is a reflection of the dedication and impact of my colleagues Cherise (Endres), Izzee (Lopez), and Mike (Lawrence) as well, who share in this recognition."
Klug recently completed her 12th year at UCCS and her ninth year as Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine. She also serves as the Director of Athletic Performance, overseeing a staff of four full-time athletic trainers while collaborating with athletic performance staff and campus nutritionists to support student-athlete health and wellness. Klug earned her Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification in August 2018.
Currently, Klug works directly with the Mountain Lions' cross country and track & field programs. During her tenure at UCCS, she also provided athletic training coverage for the men's basketball team during its 2015 RMAC Championship season and for the men's soccer program during its 2014 run to the RMAC Tournament Championship match. She holds certifications and trainings in Structure and Function Dry Needling, BStrong Blood Restriction, Scrape, Tape, Cup, Glide CE: Restoring Space, Motion, & Slack for Restricted, Neural Dynamics of the Upper Quarter Graston M1, and Functional Movement Screen.
Established in 2017-18, the Wayne Barger Athletic Trainer of the Year Award honors the legacy of former Fort Lewis College Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Sports Medicine Wayne Barger. The award recognizes athletic trainers who exemplify the RMAC's commitment to ethical practice and student-athlete health and safety. Voting is conducted by the conference's head athletic trainers, who each submit one ballot and are not permitted to vote for themselves.
Klug and Birney will be formally recognized at the 2026 RMAC Annual Awards and Hall of Fame Banquet on July 9.
| 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 |
SOCIAL
X –
@GoMountainLions
Instagram –
@gomountainlions
Facebook – /
GoMountainLions
For everything UCCS Athletics, follow the Mountain Lions on social media and stay tuned to
gomountainlions.com.
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
