Tanner Gracy joined Parkside Athletics as an assistant athletic trainer in July of 2026.
Gracy works with Parkside student-athletes to provide injury prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation and return-to-play services while collaborating with coaches and the Rangers' sports medicine staff to support student-athlete health and performance.
Prior to joining Parkside, Gracy completed his athletic training education at Blackburn University, where he gained extensive clinical experience working with a wide variety of collegiate athletic programs, including men's and women's basketball, men's and women's wrestling, dance, cheer, flag football, baseball, men's soccer and women's basketball. He also completed clinical rotations at Lincoln High School and Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, gaining experience in orthopedic surgery, emergency medicine, family medicine, radiology and primary care.
Gracy also provided athletic training coverage at numerous championship events, including the USA National Cheer and Dance Competition, the National Duals Invitational Division I Wrestling Tournament, the Big VIII Wrestling Championships and the Illinois High School Association State Cheerleading Championships.
A Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC), Gracy holds certifications in Basic Life Support, CPR/AED, First Aid, Stop the Bleed and Mental Health First Aid. He is also a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association.
Gracy earned his bachelor's degree in exercise science and rehabilitation science from Blackburn University, where he graduated with departmental honors. During his time at Blackburn, he was a member of the President's Honor Roll, served as director of programming for the Blackburn Kinesiology Club and conducted undergraduate research that resulted in a manuscript submission to the Journal of International Society of Biomechanics. He also presented his research at the Midwest American College of Sports Medicine Annual Conference.
