(CHICAGO, ILL.) – A trio of outstanding coaches will lead the United States boxing team at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China next summer. USA Boxing National Director of Coaching Dan Campbell (Colorado Springs, Colo.) will be joined by William “Willy” Price (Peshtigo, Wis.) and Robert Martin (Washington DC) in coaching the squad in Beijing..
“I’m very pleased that all of the first-choice coaches we wanted accepted the opportunity to join the U.S. Team,” commented USA Boxing CEO, Jim Millman. “It’s a veteran coaching staff that’s particularly skilled at relating to young athletes who are all approaching the prime of their amateur careers.”
The coaching philosophy is moving in a new direction with Martin serving as offensive coach and Price handling the defensive responsibilities. The innovative approach will allow the three trainers to use their individualized strengths in leading the United States team to international success.
“Being named Olympic head coach is the highlight of my life other than my children. It’s a great honor and I’m going to do my best to put this team on top,” Campbell said.
Campbell has been involved in boxing since his childhood when he took up the sport at a YMCA in his native St. Louis. He continued to compete upon joining the U.S. Navy, but took a hiatus from boxing until the early 1990s when he stepped outside the ropes to begin coaching. Since that time, he has led numerous athletes, including his daughter, to success at the national level. Known for his work at the junior Olympic level, Campbell was hired as National Director of Coaching in 2005. Since that time, he has brought a renewed focus to the international level, instituting training regimens and programs to teach United States athletes how to be successful at major events across the globe. Campbell has led United States teams at major international tournaments at every level, including the senior, junior, cadet and women’s world championships.
Price will serve as the defensive coach for the 2008 U.S. Olympic boxing team. He began boxing over 30 years ago at a Boys and Girls Club in Menominee, Mich. The Wisconsin native has served as head coach for several major national events as well as leading United States teams at numerous international competitions and elite level training camps, including the 2005 World Championships camp. A level four coach since 2004, Price opened his own gym, the Peshtigo Boxing Club in 1997. When he is not training young people, Price drives a school bus and works for the city of Peshtigo. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Barb, and his two daughters Crystal and Jennifer.
The offensive responsibilities for the 2008 U.S. Olympic team lie with soft-spoken Washington DC United States Postal Service employee, Martin. Known for his skills as a mitt man in addition to his offensive knowledge, Martin has been coaching at the national level since 1998. He works closely with bantamweight Olympian Gary Russell, Jr. and the entire Russell family, and has coached national events at every level over the past decade. Most recently, he served as a coach for both the 2006 Cadet World Championships and Cuba Olympiad Training Camp. Martin has two daughters, Chyerl and Sherice.
The Technical Advisor and Olympic Team Leader will be announced shortly, finalizing the entire 2008 Olympic Staff. The 2008 U.S. Olympic Team was set at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing in August.
Qualification for the Beijing Olympics is currently taking place at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago through November 3. After six days of competition, the United States is 17-3 with eight of the 11 weight classes still in contention for both Beijing and a World Championships gold medal.