Hersey teacher finalist for N. American Special Olympics Coach of Year

John Hersey High School teacher Craig Ameel was recently named as one of four finalists for the Special Olympics North American Coach of the Year.

Ameel, a 33-year veteran teacher, began coaching Special Olympics 27 years ago because he “wanted to give my special students a chance to get involved in sports, like every other high school student can do.”

Sixteen coaches from across the U.S. were nominated for Special Olympics Coach of the Year, of which four were chosen as finalists. Ameel was selected as a finalist for the breadth and duration of his service to Special Olympics.

During a typical school year, Ameel coaches seven Special Olympic sports, including volleyball, floor hockey, basketball and cross-country skiing. His teams participate in area, district and state competitions where they have won gold medals for 38 team championships and hundreds of individual state championships. He has also coached at the World Games in 1999 (North Carolina), 2007 (Shanghai) and 2011 (Athens). Ameel was the Illinois Head Track Coach for the National Games in 2006 (Iowa) and 2010 (Nebraska).

Ameel’s reward for his hours and hard work is seeing the individual growth that the athletes have as people and as competitors.

“It’s great to see an individual become a contributing team member — sharing, interacting — all those things add up to make a person more social and more independent,” he said.

Ameel’s influence doesn’t end on the athletic field. He has had three Global Messengers (students trained to give speeches to groups about the benefits of Special Olympics) come out of the program, and six of his former Partners Club members (mainstream students who volunteer to help the team) have become special education teachers or work in a related field like occupational therapy.

“I continue to coach because it is an amazing experience every time we practice, compete and participate in other Special Olympics events,” Ameel said. “The opportunity for the athletes to be involved is vital, and really, life-changing for them. It certainly has changed my life.”