Helena paraeducator Chris Findley named Special Olympics Montana Coach of the Year

Chris Findley, a paraeducator at C.R. Anderson Middle School in Helena, has been named Special Olympics Montana’s Coach of the Year for 2026, winning the statewide honor out of 15 finalists. Findley has worked with children with disabilities for 16 years and also coaches the Helena Twisters Special Olympics team, NationalToday reported on Mar. 5, 2026.

NationalToday noted that Findley had been nominated multiple times before securing the statewide award and that the recognition follows years of local coaching and program-building in Helena. The story included the line that coaching the Helena Twisters, "which she says is one of the most rewarding parts of her job," underscoring the day-to-day role she fills at C.R. Anderson Middle School and in community practices.

Special Olympics Montana’s work in the Helena area has received additional recognition this season. The Helena Halos were named Special Olympics Montana’s Local Program of the Year and received the news during a surprise ceremony Oct. 29 at Carroll College, the Independent Record reported, with members of the Helena Halos cheering as they were awarded the honor during practice. That program award and Findley’s statewide coach honor together reflect a concentration of Special Olympics activity and recognition centered in Helena.

NationalToday framed the significance of the award in terms of inclusion and life skills: "Special Olympics provides important opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities to participate in sports and develop important life skills. Coaches like Findley play a crucial role in creating an inclusive and supportive environment for these athletes to thrive. Her recognition as Coach of the Year highlights the impact that dedicated volunteers can have in their local communities." The text links Findley’s individual recognition to broader public-health and social-equity goals around activity, social connection, and developmental support for people with intellectual disabilities.

Local and statewide outlets have tracked Special Olympics work across Montana this year. Yahoo’s aggregation referenced KTVH Helena NBC in reporting the coach award, and MontanaSports has run multiple pieces on Special Olympics figures statewide, including coverage that names Shelby Cassell, Steve Lettengarver, Jared Redeen, and others in stories about coaches and athletes preparing for state competitions and summer games.

Findley’s Coach of the Year award, announced in the March 5 coverage, highlights both sustained personal commitment—16 years working with children with disabilities—and the volunteer and institutional networks in Lewis and Clark County that support inclusive sport. The honor raises the profile of the Helena Twisters and complements the Helena Halos’ Local Program of the Year recognition at Carroll College, signaling growing attention and resources for Special Olympics programs in Helena.