By Staff
Tim McDaniel of Lawton was honored Feb. 28 as the Special Olympics Michigan Area 17 Coach of the Year and Special Olympics Outstanding Coach 2004 for Michigan.
Area 17 consists of Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties.
McDaniel has coached Special Olympic athletes for 27 years in poly hockey, snowshoe, cross country skiing, basketball and athletics.
He encourages the athletes to be trained and compete in higher-level competition, is concerned about enriching the lives of all athletes and is very motivating to athletes.
McDaniel has organized overnight events for the B-level teams so that they have the opportunity to experience the social aspects of Special Olympics as well as the A teams.
He is involved in many aspects of the program and serves on the management team, is a fund raiser, a referee, has developed an outreach program to bring more athletes into the program, helps organize and run the district basketball tournament, having been certified in venue management.
McDaniel is always looking for ways to improve the program for athletes.
In his spare time, he coaches his own children in their sports.
McDaniel was recognized at the annual Big Heart Banquet sponsored by Michigan District Civitan Club.
The banquet was held in conjunction with Civitan's Mid-Year Convention where they joined with hundreds of Citivans and guests from across the state. All Area Special Olympic Coaches of the Year were honored at this banquet and presented with gifts thanking them for their volunteer work with Special Olympics.