A LESSON IN COURAGE AFTER 1993 SPINAL CORD INJURY, COACH RETURNS TO THE FIELD.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

VALENCIA - For more than 34 years, coach Chuck Wade has taught his athletes to reach for the top and accomplish their dreams.

Now the 61-year-old Canyon Country man is heeding his own advice.

Relying on a wheelchair after suffering spinal cord injury in a 1993 traffic collision, Wade has returned to teaching and even coaching. Now he is determined to get back on his feet.

``My big plans are to get out of this wheelchair,'' Wade said. ``I'm getting some feeling back.''

For the past four years, Wade has joined the Center of Achievement for the Physically Disabled, offered through the Kinesiology Department at California State University, Northridge, which allows him to get intensive therapy to make miraculous changes.

``I was very fortunate to be able to get into it,'' said Wade, adding that the center has an extensive waiting list and noting that there has been fantastic progress at the facility.

Wade is a model patient.

``Chuck is a role model for all the students here,'' said CSUN Professor Taylor Isaacs, center official. ``Everyone who works with Chuck Wade comes away a more well-rounded person.''

Wade undergoes therapy at the center once or twice a week, doing a variety of stretching, strengthening and flexibility workouts and undergoing muscular ensurance, posture and balance exercises.

``Chuck is progressing very well'' Isaacs said. ``He's keeping himself in the best possible condition.''

Isaacs said that Wade is very focused on his commitment to walk.

``Every semester his goals change,'' Isaacs said. ``Every year during his assessment we see more and more improvement in him.''

Watching others accomplish their goals provides Wade with motivation.

``Everyone has different types of injuries, but seeing them do it keeps me motivated,'' Wade said. ``It's a really positive experience.''

In his many years of teaching and coaching, Wade said that he has always gained inspiration from his students - watching them aspire has brought him success.

After 34 years of teaching math, Wade retired in 1998 from Canyon High School but continued coaching on a volunteer basis. Last year he coached football and track and field at Canyon High School.

This year he has begun coaching at Valencia High School, where he helps run the Power Lifting Club and also finds time to tutor kids in math.

``I figured I owed the school and the students a lot,'' Wade said, adding that he finds strength in his watching kids learn. ``It gets you motivated to watch the kids.''

While Wade looks to the students for motivation, it's the students who look to him for inspiration.

``He's an absolute inspiration,'' said Brain Stiman, head football coach at Valencia High School. ``They think practice is tough and real hard and then they turn around and look at him - a man that asks for absolutely no help.''

Recently, Wade acquired his certification as a specialist in strengthening and conditioning for sports through the International Sport Science Association. He also is certified as a scientific court trainer.

``I really enjoy doing this,'' said Wade, whose work is voluntary. ``I would be in really bad shape if I was sitting around doing nothing.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Being wheelchair-bound hasn't prevented Chuck Wade from coaching the Valencia High School varsity football team.

(2 -- color) Valencia High School varsity football team assistant coach Chuck Wade is focused on his plan to walk again.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer