Coaching in the Community

In alignment with the University’s core values of faith, innovation, education, service and truth, the Department of Athletics is dedicated to the development of all student-athletes’ minds, bodies and spirits in preparation for life beyond athletics (uiw.edu). Within all 14 of its sports and beyond, UIW Athletics nurtures each athlete that enters the Nest. However, sometimes UIW has the opportunity to support young athletes from beyond the Nest.

In addition to serving as UIW’s director of Sports and Wellness, Coach Scott LeBlanc has also been coaching young athletes with special needs through the Kinetic Kids program for over 20 years. The Kinetic Kids program strives to “enrich the lives of children with special needs and their families through sports, fine arts and educational programs to foster the development of courage, confidence, fitness, pride, joy and community” (kinetickidstx.org).

Having formerly worked as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and a healthcare therapist for 13 years, LeBlanc found that he had only a limited amount of time to work with his patients. He’s since found that working with community programs like Kinetic Kids affords him more time to work with athletes in order to make an impactful difference.

“I enjoy working with an athlete to teach them that being an athlete is about commitment,” noted LeBlanc. “It is not something you do; it is something you are. The skills that we teach are part of the foundation that helps develop and mold these individuals. I love what I do through Kinetic Kids.”

Through the Kinetic Kids’ track and field program, LeBlanc met one of his students Noelani Spicer. Spicer was born with spina bifida and cerebral palsy. When she was in elementary school, she was new to participating in adaptive sports but had a real passion for athletics. Every year since their first meeting, LeBlanc coached Spicer in wheelchair track. Additionally, Spicer has participated in sports including shot put, javelin, discus and archery.

Now at the age of 12, Spicer has participated in a number of competitions where she has set a number of national records and earned eight gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 1500 meters, shot put, javelin and discus.

“It feels pretty good that I get to show off how I have grown over the years,” shared Spicer. “A goal that I have set for myself is that I want to train as much as I can to try for the Paralympic trails.”

Although she is proud to recognize and celebrate her own athletic victories, she also finds it just as important to uplift other athletes. She shared that one of her favorite aspects of being an athlete is having the opportunity to cheer on her competitors and support everyone she sees.

LeBlanc finds this quality of Spicer’s to be admirable, as being an athlete is more than just the skills they demonstrate in one’s chosen sport, but also how they conduct themselves as individuals.

“One of Noelani’s most notable qualities is her desire to be her best, but she is very gracious in her achievements,” said LeBlanc. “She celebrates with all the other athletes, always congratulates others and celebrates their accomplishments as well. She has a firm understanding that the work she puts forth in practice will correlate to race day, something some young athletes do not understand.”

Spicer noted that since her first competition, she has always admired her coach as he has inspired her to always do her best as well as uplift others.

Recently, Spicer was recognized by Sports Illustrated and Dove by being featured in Sports ReIllustrated, “a special collection of stories profiling ten inspiring young athletes who are changing the conversation around girls and sports” (www.si.com).

Studies have shown that young girls are more likely than young boys to drop out of sports by their teen years. This collection of stories features diverse groups of athletes to demonstrate that “regardless of background, body type or challenge faced, young girls should continue to participate and use sports to build confidence, heart and determination that will last a lifetime.”

In her feature, Spicer can be seen gleefully demonstrating her skilled athleticism on the UIW campus with LeBlanc cheering her on, a proud smile spread across his face. LeBlanc looks forward to continuing to coach Spicer and hopes that she knows that nothing can stop her. He trusts that she will dream big and work hard because she is a champion and the world is hers.

At the closing of her Sports ReIllistrated feature, Spicer shared a message to other aspiring athletes:

“Just try and never give up!” Spicer shared through happy tears.