Zak Klein

Years involved with Special Olympics: This season marks the beginning of my 6th year of coaching/volunteering.

Sport(s) you coach: Basketball – Head Coach, Softball C – Head Coach, Active Start – Assistant Coach, FUNdamentals – Assistant Coach,  5 Pin Bowling – Scorekeeper.  Also, I volunteer at Track, Softball B and Floor Hockey B and C.

How you became involved:
Due to a car accident, I was unable to compete in my own sports. I accompanied the ladies who lived with me, Carissa Ranson and Kristina Tammark to their sports and enjoyed it very much. I volunteered one day and have been ever since. I started the basketball team because our local did not have one and the ladies expressed interest in the sport. That was one of the sports taken away from me, so I wanted to share it with others who hadn’t been given the opportunity to play it, like I was.

What do I like about coaching Special O athletes: Everything! I think I learn more from coaching them, than they could ever learn from me!

Best accomplishments: Implementing the basketball program is by far the biggest accomplishment in my SOBC career so far. Taking the team to Provincials after only 2 years was quite rewarding as well (the fact that every basketball athlete qualified was amazing…I am not sure if any other program can say the same).