USIBA

I am declaring my candidacy to continue as president of the Unites States Intercollegiate Boxing Association (USIBA) for another term. I was approved as interim president in October 2022 as a result of both the current president having to step away and the current vice president choosing not to assume the role of president for personal reasons. In my time as president, USIBA has 1) created the Academic All-American Program to recognize student athletes who excel in the classroom as well as the ring, 2) created the USIBA College Boxing Hall of Fame to recognize athletes, coaches, officials, and donors who have made consistent contributions to the USIBA LBC, and 3) has seen an increase in participation of new schools such as the University of Washington at our national championship event. It is with the desire to continue this momentum for USIBA and college boxing, that I hope to return to the role of president.

In addition to my current role as interim president, I am also an economics professor at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) who serves as the faculty advisor and registered coach of the UCR Boxing club known as Highlander Gloves, which has participated in the USIBA national championship tournament since 2018. As a long-time coach, I can approach this position with the coach’s perspective in mind and as a college professor, I also have a hand on the pulse of the pressures and perspectives of the college students for whom our LBC serves. I believe these positions enhance my qualifications to serve as president of this organization for the next term.

It is my goal to help our student-athlete members participate in the sport of boxing and, through this participation, learn the valuable life lessons, particularly those of perseverance, respect, and grit, that I gained participating in this sport, first as an athlete and then later as a coach. I also endeavor to help all of our non-athlete members, such as my fellow coaches and our officials, by doing everything we can to make it easier for them to help pass down these lessons that accompany the unique sport of boxing.