On Nov. 3, Shawn Kornoelje, associate head coach of the Oakland University swimming and diving team, received the 2011 Rick Knas Lifetime achievement award from the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame.

The Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame honors men and women who overcome physical challenges to become elite athletes and superior role models.

Kornoelje has coached high school, college, Olympic and Paralympic athletes over the span of his 23year career.

This lifetime achievement award is not his first time being recognized either.

In 2010, he received the James Raymond “Jimi” Flowers Disability Swimming Coach of the Year Award from USA Swimming. In 2008, he also received the Order of Ikkos Medallion presented by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

“I don’t work my career around being in a hall of fame,” Kornoelge said. “(My) body of work should sit on itself.”

Work with Paralympic athletes

Kornoelje’s first Paralympic athlete was Jason Wening, a double leg amputee from the University of Michigan. Under Kornoelje’s coaching, Wening broke world records and won several gold medals.

“(Wening) had to adapt certain things.,” Kornoelje said “It’s always a matter of finding what they can do and augmenting that.”

Wening’s focus and ambition reflected what Kornoelje hopes to inspire in all of his athletes.

“(There is) a level of expectation in himself that I like to have as a coach,” Kornoelje said. “He wanted to excel and be a world record holder. Whether you have legs or not, that holds some substance with people.”

In addition to Wening, Kornoelje also coaches his wife and four time Paralympic medalist, Cheryl who holds several national and world records.

“Coaching Paralympic athletes or athletes with disabilities is different and unique,” Kornoelje said. “My wife is a quadriplegic; She can’t kick at all. We work on body balance and position and different techniques.”

Regardless of conditions, Kornoelje still expects an elite mentality from all of his athletes.

“I have high expectations for all my athletes, no matter what they are missing,” Kornoelje said. “The idea of the Paralympics and Olympics, it’s not of winning. You are there to compete and do your best against the other person.”

Kornoelje understand the mental and physical struggle his athletes go through.

“One of my favorite sayings is ‘some days you’re the dog and some days you’re the fire hydrant. There is always something you can do,’ ” Kornoelje said. “As long as you do what you can with what you have that day, you’re going to do pretty well.”

Since the beginning of his career, Kornoelje has come to trust the journey more than the destination when it comes to training swimmers.

The tattoo

Kornoelje has a tattoo of Winnie the Pooh on his ankle. It wasn’t a regretful night or a stupid dare, but a symbol of his philosophy about life and coaching.

“I had read The Tao of Pooh like 30 times already,” Kornoelje said. “So I thought I’m going to put in on my ankle to remind me about it every day. Plus, I’ve always loved Winnie the Pooh.”

The book serves as introduction to the beliefs of Taoism, a Chinese philosophy that advocates a life of complete simplicity and naturalness and of noninterference with the course of natural events, in order to attain a happy existence.

The past and present

Kornoelje was able to see the success of the philosophy when in 1995, the U—M Women’s swimming and diving team was second in the country and became the first women’s swim team from Michigan to be top three in the country.

Kornoelje has been coaching the OU team for seven years now. Last year, he helped the team win a conference championship and hopes for a repeat win this year.

“(Kornoelje) mentioned to me this first semester of training is the best he has ever seen,” Nick Evans, a junior and middle distance swimmer said.

Senior Tim Montague has been coached by Kornoelje for four years.

“(He) acts as our mentor and leader while helping us perform to our highest potential,” Montague said. “We know that he is committed to our success both academically and athletically.”

Evans believes this award reflects the immense talent Kornoelje possesses for coaching.

““I think it’s the passion and dedication he has for

everything he does every day,” Evans said. “It’s hard to imagine someone who possesses that kind of ability and (Kornoelje) embodies that completely.”

Some of Kornoelje’s former athletes wrote recommendations to the athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame for the lifetime achievement award.

“I had three or four former athletes that wrote some recommendations that brought me to tears,” Kornoelje said. “I didn’t know had that effect on people and that influence on their life.”

Kornoelje’s current athletes have many good things to say about him as well.

“He is a great coach and deserves every achievement and honor that has been bestowed upon him,” Montague said.

Kornoelje is happy with what he is doing right now and hopes to continue for some time.

“I want to be someone they can look to as more than a person on deck making them swim fast,” Kornoelje said. “I want to help them deal with adversity and be supportive as best as I possibly can. That is the most important thing to me whether I win or lose.”