Zanders is Out, Edwards is Likely in as U.S. Head Coach
Apr 5, 2012 • 2:29 AM ET
By Ryan Maquiñana
Joe Zanders is out as U.S. National Team head coach and will likely be replaced by former British boss Terry Edwards, according to a report by Insideboxing.com.
Multiple sources have confirmed with BoxingScene.com that Zanders will depart from the position, but he will still remain with USA Boxing in a different capacity.
The news comes at a curious time considering that the Olympics are mere months away, in addition to the fact that Edwards is a total outsider to the American amateur program.
However, Edwards is no stranger to competition on this level, with several successes the past three Games in charge of Great Britain’s squad. At Athens 2000, super heavyweight Audley Harrison became Britain’s first gold medalist since 1968, while 17-year-old lightweight Amir Khan captured silver in Sydney four years later.
In Beijing four years ago, James DeGale had the Union Jack flying high after becoming middleweight champion under Edwards’ tutelage, while super heavyweight David Price and light heavyweight Tony Jeffries took bronze.
Meanwhile, the Americans produced their worst showing in any Olympic Games when only heavyweight Deontay Wilder’s bronze medal prevented a shutout in 2008.
Despite Edwards’ experience and credentials, USA Boxing president Hal Adonis and executive director Anthony Bartkowski will likely face questions on why several domestic Level IV coaches were left out of the application process.
The report named U.S. Army coach Basheer Abdullah and Milwaukee-based Israel Acosta as other trainers who were interviewed for the vacant post.
It remains to be seen if the new coach will take on both the men’s and women’s teams. Acosta, Hawaii’s Bruce Kawano, and Virginia’s Gloria Peek are currently with Team USA’s women in Cornwall, Canada, for the Continental Championships.
Ryan Maquiñana writes a weekly column for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (CSNBayArea.com). He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and Ring Magazine’s Ratings Panel. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com , check out his blog at norcalboxing.net or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.
