During my attempts to contact Coach K, I reached out to another Coach at Duke, Dan Collella, Matt’s swim team coach, to let him know about Matt’s condition. I didn’t find out until later that Coach Dan gave Matt a call shortly after hearing from me, and the two of them began having regular conversations. As it happened, Matt wasn’t the only one coping with cancer treatments at the time – so was Coach Dan. Despite receiving treatment for an advanced prostate cancer, Coach Dan was still tending to his coaching responsibilities at Duke, and taking the time to support one of his former swimmers in Matt. But in a case of pupil helping teacher, Matt was also there to support Coach Dan, as the two of them exchanged stories about their ongoing cancer treatments. Coach Dan and Matt were now engaged in a different competition – not against a rival school in a swimming pool, but against cancer.

Coach Dan sent me a note expressing his condolences when Matt passed, but I didn’t know what to expect when I received a large package from him in the mail. Inside was a plaque entitled the “Matthew McKenna Above and Beyond Award.” I suppose there are ways a small kid can make a difference even when they don’t have the fastest times in the pool!

This award, named in honor and memory of Matthew McKenna, is presented to the student-athlete that selflessly gives their time, love and dedication to Duke University and its Swimming and Diving program. As McKenna did throughout his life, this individual threw themselves into their community with consistent efforts to improve the lives of those around them. The winner of this award sets goals above their own desires and beyond their own success.

Again as fate would have it, Matt and Coach Dan would get a chance to reconnect once again when Coach Dan passed in December of 2022.

Thanks Coach, for being there for my son!