‘Coach Joe’ Leads Athletes to Special Olympics and Beyond
What started as a diversion during a very dark time in his family’s life has turned into an abiding passion for Joe Luther, a.k.a. Coach Joe.
In 2019, Luther and his mother began a program to help individuals with special needs.
“She was going through an aggressive cancer battle and had always wanted to help people with special needs,” Luther said.
Luther, an exercise enthusiast who had owned gyms since he was 19 years old, saw an unmet need in training local athletes for the Special Olympics.
“Brevard had a very low turnout in the Special Olympics, compared to other counties in Florida,” said the Palm Bay resident.
Luther, who at the time owned Anytime Fitness in Palm Bay, developed such a deep connection for the athletes he mentored that he closed the gym and sold the equipment to form Just Right Living, a nonprofit that not only empowers athletes to do their best on the field or the court, but also to excel in life.
Luther’s mom lost her fight with cancer last year, but she lived long enough to see her dream become reality with Just Right Living, which merged with Agency for Life Transformations to provide career coaching and life skills development for the differently abled community.
“We do full mind, body and spirit coaching,” Luther said.
The organization helps participants join the workforce by partnering with a variety of employers such as day care centers, landscaping and land clearing companies, car dealerships and even a law firm. Ten individuals are enrolled in the job training program. As one graduates, another joins in.
“It’s become what it is through word of mouth and a lot of building relationships with local businesses to secure employment opportunities for my athletes,” Luther said.
Thirty athletes participate in the sports portion of Just Right Living. Eight of them competed in the 2021 Special Olympics, and Luther is gunning for 20 of his guys and gals to be part of Special Olympics this year. One shoo-in is undoubtedly Timothy Duquette, highly proficient in seven different sports.
Luther and his team practice at Free Lee Park in Palm Bay so often that the group has officially adopted the facility.
Luther’s efforts for special needs athletes earned him the title of Inspirational Coach of the Year from the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Disney in 2019. Luther, who has struggled with depression, anxiety and extreme weight swings for years, believes his athletes are helping him as much as he is helping them.
A huge fan of inclusion, Luther hopes one day in the near future the world realizes special needs encompass all of us.
“Wouldn’t it be nice if we lived in a world where we all understood that everyone needs accommodation of one form or another,” he said.
“We all have special needs.”
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