Amie Day: 2025 PCA Coach of the Year National Winner presented by TeamSnap

Amie understands firsthand the unique challenges faced by athletes with disabilities, having used a wheelchair since the age of three after being paralyzed in a car accident. She is always teaching athletes how to navigate the world independently with the physical functionality they have. Advocacy is an important skill in the disabled community and Amie teaches her athletes how to advocate for their needs with confidence and poise.

Recognizing the isolation many adaptive athletes face in traditional settings such as school, Amie creates a safe and supportive community where athletes can connect and share their experiences. She often shares her own journey, such as her initial hesitation to join a high school track team and how she ultimately became a Paralympian. Her openness has inspired her athletes to discuss their own challenges, creating a peer network where they encourage one another to overcome life’s obstacles.

Adaptive sports, by their nature, result in a diverse community to form a team as large as Team GLASA. They vary in race, ethnicity, gender and certainly ability, but Amie works to create an environment where every athlete feels welcome and empowered to set their personal goals. Her positive, coaching style emphasizes a can-do attitude that bridges backgrounds and fosters community. Amie brings a positive attitude and positive reinforcement in the language she uses every day. With her calm demeanor and infinite patience, she can motivate her athletes to put in their best effort and overcome mistakes and setbacks. As a coach and former athlete, she understands athletes must develop their athletic skills as well as the capability to push through doubts and frustrations.

Through her empathetic coaching, Amie not only helps athletes excel in their sport but equips them with the tools to navigate life confidently and independently, while fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment.