Founder, Annette K. (Rutt) Lynch
Annette K. (Rutt) Lynch, MS has amassed over 55 years of experience and expertise from junior high to high school, on to NCAA Division I and finally Special Olympics, Inc. In June of 2016 Lynch transitioned to developing her own company – AKL Connection, LLC – a human development company … coaching others to connect their dreams with reality. Lynch now uses her many years of experience and expertise as an elite athlete, coach, teacher, trainer, innovator, motivator and administrator to help others locally, nationally and internationally as well as inside and outside of Special Olympics. Current research and consulting involves KPERFORM’s utilization of the BUBBLE CHEEK™ breathing technique and BBV™ KHARE SYSTEMS, which maximize an individual’s ability to drive their own success and performance without dependency on wearables. Her assistance focuses on coach education and certification. Lynch is also working with Special Olympics New Hampshire and their Program department. Her focus is assisting individuals and organizations improve their communication skills, relationship building and maximizing their capabilities so that they become consistent top performers.
Her career began in sport as an elite athlete (which included playing on the USA Women’s Basketball Team and extended to Special Olympics International in 1989 when she chose a different, but related, career path as basketball director. Lynch was able to assume this position because of the experience gained from her previous 22 years of sport education, teaching, coaching and playing at the junior high, high school, NCAA Division I and professional levels. In 1992 she became coaches’ education director for team sports and the editor of the Coaches Quarterly (1993-1995). In 1996, she became senior sports training manager; in June of 1997, director of sports training and education and in January 1998, the director of coach education. She managed the train-the-trainer program (addressing the needs of individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities and developing materials), which assisted in the training and education of Special Olympics coaches and officials, worldwide. These resources and materials included the development of the Special Olympics Global Coach Education System (approved by the SOI Board of Directors in December of 1999, accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE) in June of 2001 and re-accredited in 2010 and 2018.
Materials consisted of Sport-specific Program Guides, Sport-specific Skills and Tactics Courses Instructor Guides, the Principles of Coaching Course and Instructor Course, Officials Course and Instructor Guide, Unified Sports® Course and Games Management Training Course and Instructor Course. Three Special Olympics analog courses were seamlessly translated to online: Principles of Coaching for Special Olympics (West Virginia University Extended Learning; Coaching Special Olympics Athletes (Human Kinetics American Sport Education Program); Coaching Unified Sports® (National Federation of State High Schools) that are being used today. In addition, she oversaw training school applications, coaches' and officials' certifications, and needs’ assessment requests from the Accredited Programs. With the latter, she worked with individual Special Olympics Accredited Programs, regional advisors, and regional sport managers in putting together plans whereby those educational requests and materials were fulfilled.
1 September 2000, Lynch accepted the position as vice president of sports development and education with Special Olympics Maryland. She joined a dedicated staff in a very progressive program that valued social inclusion and improving the quality of services to Special Olympics athletes. Lynch administered the development of sports programming, which included creating and managing sport-specific development teams, coaching education, Unified Sports®, competition, volunteers, and families plus the train-the-trainer program. She also managed four staff members: director of competition, director of coach education, director of volunteer management and families’ coordinator.
In 2004, Lynch served as director of education and membership services with the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) from 2004-2008. At NACWAA, she oversaw not only education and professional development for the association and its members through three Institutes and its National Convention, but also the management of the membership campaigns and database. She also contributed to the Weekly Update, Annual Report, Strategic Planning and Board meeting preparations.
Then in June of 2008, she joined Special Olympics North America (SONA). She continued her major focus and passion on coaching excellence and sport education with oversight of coach development (education; recruitment; retention; recognition), the train-the-trainer program, Athlete Leadership, Unified Sports®, and relationships with National Governing Bodies and sport organizations (KPERFORM™ Inc, NBA; USOC; NCAA; ASEP; NFHS; USCCE; PCA; SHAPE; Leaders for Life Martial Arts; BRVC … just to name a few). In addition, Lynch was SONA’s liaison to the World Games, Coach Education Resource Team, Global Unified Sports® Advisory Group, Global Basketball Resource Committee, Program Excellence Committee and the Positive Coaching Alliance Advisory Group. In addition she managed the USA National Bowling Tournament and the Penn Relays.
Today, Annette K. Lynch is providing consulting services via AKL Connection, LLC to KPERFORM™, Inc., Special Olympics New Hampshire, Special Olympics North America, Special Olympics International, Leaders for Life Martial Arts and BRVC as well as assisting clients in their development of coaches, players and staff in more effectively managing their programs. She continues to speak and develop skills having done so with well over 578 professional groups, Program staff, coaches’ clinics, youth camps and banquets. Her approach to leadership excellence is grounded in the belief that people at all levels in an organization, people on teams or as part of a work group, can be consistent top performers. Physical performance affects one’s cognitive ability; it is creating conditions so that others can successfully meet those obstacles and do their best work … it is helping others help themselves so that they are able to unlock their potential and replicate success despite the challenges.
Her career began in sport as an elite athlete (which included playing on the USA Women’s Basketball Team and extended to Special Olympics International in 1989 when she chose a different, but related, career path as basketball director. Lynch was able to assume this position because of the experience gained from her previous 22 years of sport education, teaching, coaching and playing at the junior high, high school, NCAA Division I and professional levels. In 1992 she became coaches’ education director for team sports and the editor of the Coaches Quarterly (1993-1995). In 1996, she became senior sports training manager; in June of 1997, director of sports training and education and in January 1998, the director of coach education. She managed the train-the-trainer program (addressing the needs of individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities and developing materials), which assisted in the training and education of Special Olympics coaches and officials, worldwide. These resources and materials included the development of the Special Olympics Global Coach Education System (approved by the SOI Board of Directors in December of 1999, accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE) in June of 2001 and re-accredited in 2010 and 2018.
Materials consisted of Sport-specific Program Guides, Sport-specific Skills and Tactics Courses Instructor Guides, the Principles of Coaching Course and Instructor Course, Officials Course and Instructor Guide, Unified Sports® Course and Games Management Training Course and Instructor Course. Three Special Olympics analog courses were seamlessly translated to online: Principles of Coaching for Special Olympics (West Virginia University Extended Learning; Coaching Special Olympics Athletes (Human Kinetics American Sport Education Program); Coaching Unified Sports® (National Federation of State High Schools) that are being used today. In addition, she oversaw training school applications, coaches' and officials' certifications, and needs’ assessment requests from the Accredited Programs. With the latter, she worked with individual Special Olympics Accredited Programs, regional advisors, and regional sport managers in putting together plans whereby those educational requests and materials were fulfilled.
1 September 2000, Lynch accepted the position as vice president of sports development and education with Special Olympics Maryland. She joined a dedicated staff in a very progressive program that valued social inclusion and improving the quality of services to Special Olympics athletes. Lynch administered the development of sports programming, which included creating and managing sport-specific development teams, coaching education, Unified Sports®, competition, volunteers, and families plus the train-the-trainer program. She also managed four staff members: director of competition, director of coach education, director of volunteer management and families’ coordinator.
In 2004, Lynch served as director of education and membership services with the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) from 2004-2008. At NACWAA, she oversaw not only education and professional development for the association and its members through three Institutes and its National Convention, but also the management of the membership campaigns and database. She also contributed to the Weekly Update, Annual Report, Strategic Planning and Board meeting preparations.
Then in June of 2008, she joined Special Olympics North America (SONA). She continued her major focus and passion on coaching excellence and sport education with oversight of coach development (education; recruitment; retention; recognition), the train-the-trainer program, Athlete Leadership, Unified Sports®, and relationships with National Governing Bodies and sport organizations (KPERFORM™ Inc, NBA; USOC; NCAA; ASEP; NFHS; USCCE; PCA; SHAPE; Leaders for Life Martial Arts; BRVC … just to name a few). In addition, Lynch was SONA’s liaison to the World Games, Coach Education Resource Team, Global Unified Sports® Advisory Group, Global Basketball Resource Committee, Program Excellence Committee and the Positive Coaching Alliance Advisory Group. In addition she managed the USA National Bowling Tournament and the Penn Relays.
Today, Annette K. Lynch is providing consulting services via AKL Connection, LLC to KPERFORM™, Inc., Special Olympics New Hampshire, Special Olympics North America, Special Olympics International, Leaders for Life Martial Arts and BRVC as well as assisting clients in their development of coaches, players and staff in more effectively managing their programs. She continues to speak and develop skills having done so with well over 578 professional groups, Program staff, coaches’ clinics, youth camps and banquets. Her approach to leadership excellence is grounded in the belief that people at all levels in an organization, people on teams or as part of a work group, can be consistent top performers. Physical performance affects one’s cognitive ability; it is creating conditions so that others can successfully meet those obstacles and do their best work … it is helping others help themselves so that they are able to unlock their potential and replicate success despite the challenges.
Education and Professional Honors & Awards
- Bachelor’s of Science degree at Illinois State University. There she majored in physical education, minored in psychology, and competed in basketball, field hockey, golf, track and field, and volleyball. After graduation, she played on the USA Women’s Basketball Team, which was followed by teaching and coaching in Missouri, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
- Master's Degree at Lehigh University. There she acquired her Master’s degree in education with an emphasis on human development (counseling).
- Additional honors include:
- Special Olympics North America Annette K. Lynch Lifetime Achievement Award for Coaching (2022)
- United States Center for Coaching Excellence Legacy Award (2019)
- Induction into the following Halls of Fame: Illinois State University and Sterling High School.
- Extensive experience in coaching at nearly every level: junior high (Indian Valley and Easton, PA), high school (North Kansas City, MO, and Easton, PA), NCAA Division I (Lehigh University, Northwestern University, and the University of Rhode Island), and Special Olympics
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