Dr. John C. Sorochan works as a Professor in the University of Tennessee, US, and also serves as the Director of the UT Center for Athletic Field Safety.

He is internationally recognized for his expertise in the design, installation and maintenance of safe, sustainable and high-performance sports turf surfaces.

Sochoran’s career in turfgrass management began in 1988 as a member of the grounds crew at the Earl Grey Golf and Country Club in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, ultimately leading him to earn a Ph.D. in Turfgrass Science from the Michigan State University in 2002.

Dr. Sorochan’s research program focuses on enhancing the turfgrass performance and safety through innovative strategies including –athletic field performance and safety, athlete-to-surface interactions and sustainable turfgrass management techniques.

He serves as a consultant for FIFA overseeing research on grass and root zone systems for the 2026 FIFA World Cup TM and represents the National Football League (NFL) Players’ Association (NFLPA) for field safety and performance. Dr. Sorochan advises Major League Soccer (MLS) and Major League Baseball (MLB) too on field safety and performance.