The annual award is given to a coach that utilizes scientific techniques and equipment as an integral part of his or her coaching methods, or has created innovative ways to use sport science. “Because of Wolfi’s high level of technical expertise, combined with his coaching abilities, the U.S. luge team has grown into an international leader, evident by our four Olympic medals and host of World Cup and World Championship medals,” stated USA Luge’s executive director, Ron Rossi. “It’s extremely difficult to find a coach with a true understanding of the science behind the sport, and it’s even more difficult to find one who can effectively combine the science with the art to motivate a team year after year… Wolfi has the unique ability to do both.”

Since becoming the association’s head coach in 1986, Schaedler spends the off-season at his home in Triesenberg, Liechtenstein, creating the U.S. team sled’s runners and pods (seats) from scratch, shaping the runners’ wood cores and designing and building molds based upon wind tunnel studies. Schaedler also manufactures sled parts and machines all sled hardware, machines the sled’s steel runners, sets the edge and bow (geometry) for all of the U.S. athletes’ runners and innovates sled parts, including the sled’s suspension. All this has allowed him to become recognized as one of the top luge sled builders worldwide.

Other finalists for the “Doc” Counsilman Science Award include figure skating coach Kate Arbour, cycling’s Dr. Andrew Coggan, sports dietitian and president of Sports Alliance Inc., Dave Ellis and U.S. bobsled coach Brian Shimer.