Joe Black began his association with Maryville College Athletics in 1981. For the past 26 years, Mr. Carl Joseph Black has given his time and professional experience to the college and local community.

Joe was born down the road in Loudon and was a standout football player at Loudon High School.

He combined his love for athletics and academics to pursue an education at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He was an honors graduate in 1976 and was recognized as the outstanding senior from the College of Education.

Joe travelled across the state to Memphis and UT’s Center for the Health Sciences. He earned a degree in Physical Therapy in 1977.

He established a physical therapy department in Bluefield, West Virginia in 1979, but those mountains were not like the hills of East Tennessee.

He always knew he would return home to live and work in East Tennessee. Our community is a much better place because of Joe’s decision.

When Joe came back to Maryville, he immediately volunteered his services to MC. He has served as our team’s physical therapist since 1981. He earned his internship hours to become a certified athletic trainer at Maryville from 1981-1982. Upon his certification in athletic training in 1982, Joe became a permanent fixture on our athletic training staff.

It is hard to measure all of his contributions to Maryville College during the past 26 years- but one thing is certain, He has been a vital reason for the success of our athletic department. He and his staff at Appalachian Therapy Center have supervised the rehabilitation and return of nearly every seriously injured Scot and Lady Scot in the past two decades.

How many people in the room today have been put back in working order by MC’s physical therapy skills? I guarantee you Joe had something to do with your recovery.

He has served as a mentor and teacher to our athletic trainer (Sharon Wood) since she was a student at MC, and has guided our program through her work. When something is needed for a student-athlete, Joe has always been there to provide what ever assistance is needed-whether it’s a brace, an arch support, a professional directive for rehabilitation, or an evaluation- we can always count on Joe.

When you think of sports medicine in Blount County- you think of Joe Black. Joe has provided athletic training coverage to more athletic contests than any athletic trainer in the country. It was his vision and determination that provided an athletic trainer for all of our high schools. His company funds each school’s programs. He personally covers all of the Maryville High School contests and plays an important role in their athletic success.

Joe and his wife, Quinn are proud parents of two children, Whitney and Nick.

Nick, the youngest of the two, used his talents to win state championships at Maryville High School and play football at Clemson University. He is married to Regina Black and presently attends Law School at the University of Tennessee.

Whitney was a standout volleyball player for Head Coach Kandis Schram from 1996-1999. She helped lead the Scots to 66 victories and was named MC’s J.D. Davis Award winner her senior year. Dr. Whitney Dee is now a local pediatrician and is married to Dr. Johnny Dee. They are the proud parents of Joe’s granddaughter, Kaitlyn.

In his spare time, Joe is the current President of the Tennessee Physical Therapy Association, and head athletic trainer for the Tennessee High School All-Star football team. However, he will tell you that he spends most of his free time with his wife, family, and granddaughter Kaitlyn. Joe is an avid basketball player, cyclist, and enjoys the outdoors.

The Black family presents the Carl H. Black Student-Athletic Trainer of the Year Award annually since 1983, in honor of Joe’s father, for an outstanding student-trainer at Maryville College.

A dedicated writer, lecturer, professional, volunteer, and advocate for community involvement, Joe has been inducted into the Blount County Hall of Fame, named Trainer of the Year by the Tennessee Athletic Trainers Association, and honored with a Distinguished Service Award from the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame.

Let us honor Joe’s life of dedicated service to our college and our community. He is a man who has given so much of himself for the betterment of others. He is a true professional that belongs on the MC Athletic Wall of Fame. Mr. Joe Black.