CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (February 10, 2026) – Chattanooga Football Club today announced that Erlanger Health, a nonprofit health system based in Chattanooga, is the club’s Official and Exclusive Health Care Provider.
The news arrives on the eve of the men’s professional team’s third season competing in MLS NEXT Pro and during a monumental year for the game in the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
As the region’s leading nonprofit academic health system, Erlanger will deliver comprehensive, integrated medical services to Chattanooga FC athletes, staff, and supporters; anchored by its robust orthopedic service line and advanced cardiology programs.
“We couldn’t be happier to be Chattanooga FC’s exclusive medical health care provider,” said Jim Coleman, President and CEO, Erlanger. “Our mission at Erlanger is to compassionately care for the people in our community. That goes for our youngest kids starting to kick a ball with the Academy to the finely tuned athletes that play in Finley Stadium every weekend. Erlanger has an incredible team of PTs and orthopedic docs, and athletic trainers as part of the largest network of physicians in the region. We'll make sure that our athletes and future athletes are well taken care of.”
As part of the partnership, Dr. Hunter Garrett will serve as Head Team Physician for Chattanooga Football Club, providing leadership and oversight for the Club’s medical care and sports medicine services. Dr. Harish Manyam will serve as the Club’s consulting cardiologist, supporting cardiovascular screening, evaluation, and advanced cardiac care for players and club personnel.
“We are excited to announce this milestone partnership with Erlanger,” Davis Grizzard, Primary Owner, Chattanooga Football Club said. “Both CFC and Erlanger complement each other extremely well with putting the community of Chattanooga first in everything we do. We know our coaches, players, and staff are in the best hands with Erlanger. This is a significant moment for the club in its growth and a sign of what our future holds.”
As part of the relationship, Erlanger will provide:
- Comprehensive orthopedic and sports medicine care
- Physician-led on-site and event-based medical coverage for matches, training sessions, and official club activities, provided by Erlanger’s sports medicine and orthopedic physician team
- Immediate access to advanced cardiac care, including cardiovascular screening, diagnostic services, and subspecialty cardiology consultation
- Integrated rehabilitation and recovery services, including physical therapy and specialty recovery programs
- Seamless access to Erlanger’s Level I Trauma Center and emergency services for acute injuries and urgent medical needs
- Event medical operations, including first-aid stations and ambulance services for supporters at home matches
Erlanger’s comprehensive orthopedic infrastructure, spanning sports medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons, and rehabilitation specialists, allows Chattanooga FC to deliver coordinated, high-level Musculoskeletal care across the full continuum of injury prevention, treatment, and performance recovery. In parallel, Erlanger’s advanced cardiology and stroke programs provide an added layer of athlete and spectator safety through rapid access to specialized cardiovascular and neurovascular expertise.
About Chattanooga FC
Chattanooga Football Club was founded in 2009. The CFC Men's team is fully professional and competes in MLS NEXT Pro, while the CFC Women's team competes in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL), the largest women’s soccer league in the country. Chattanooga Football Club became the first soccer club to offer true ownership to the fans in 2019 with 3,200+ investors from Chattanooga, all 50 states, and 31 countries. CFC plays all of its home games at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. The club serves the community as a technical soccer leader as well and runs and operates pathways from U4 to professional through its own youth club, MLS NEXT professional pathway and partnering with local recreational clubs.
About Erlanger
Erlanger is a non-profit health system based in Chattanooga, Tenn., affiliated with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine. The seven-hospital system includes the region’s only Level I Trauma Center, children’s hospital, Level IV NICU, kidney transplant center, 24/7 stroke care, and many more essential services. Children’s Hospital at Erlanger provides the highest level of trauma, critical, and inpatient care. Erlanger is the sole provider of tertiary care services spanning a 50,000 square-mile region encompassing southeast Tennessee, northwest Georgia, north Alabama, and western North Carolina. The health system comprises seven hospitals and emergency departments, provides medical services for a fleet of six helicopters, and offers exceptional, comprehensive care at all of life’s stages. With a history of over a century, Erlanger continues its founding mission to compassionately care for people. Visit, erlanger.org.
