U.S. Boxing Coach’s Job in Limbo : Alleged Physical Assault May Cost Adams the Position

Last October, at a hotel meeting room in Oklahoma City, a USA Amateur Boxing Federation committee named Ken Adams coach of the 1988 United States Olympic boxing team.

There were smiles, handshakes and backslaps all around.

On June 11, many of the same people in that room will gather again at the federation’s Colorado Springs offices. This time, no one will be smiling, least of all Adams.

His job will be on the line.

A 47-year-old master sergeant from Ft. Hood, Tex., Adams is accused of grabbing Kersten Dahl, the USA/ABF controller, by the throat during an argument at the federation’s Colorado Springs offices May 13. The committee meeting June 11 will review the case and could recommend that Adams be removed as Olympic coach.

Several federation insiders say that is precisely what will happen, although none will talk on the record.

So, 3 1/2 months before the Seoul Olympics, the U.S. Olympic boxing team may soon be without a head coach, at least temporarily.

Said Col. Don Hull, president of the USA/ABF, on the Adams case: “It’s a matter of assault. There were witnesses. It was seen and heard by people. Dahl had scratches on his throat the next day. In fact, Kersten was (so frightened) by the incident that he asked for security protection.”

Hull said that Adams had later apologized to Dahl. “I’m saddened that Adams has got himself involved in a problem that has nothing to do with his coaching ability,” he added.

Jim Fox, executive director of USA/ABF, who ordered Adams out of the federation’s training camp shortly after the incident, does not use the word suspended to describe Adams’ status, instead calling him “presently unassigned.”

Adams, from his home in Killeen, Tex., said Tuesday that he had been advised by his lawyer not to discuss the incident.

“It’s an unfortunate situation, but after I present my side of the story, I’m hopeful of the outcome,” he said.

According to sources, Adams went to see Dahl and found his office door closed. When he knocked, Dahl opened the door and told Adams never to disturb him when his door was closed.

More words were exchanged, sources said. According to one account, Adams yelled, “I’ll break your . . . neck.”

The incident was Adams’ second in recent months, one source said.

“Kenny got into a shouting match with a clerk one day, but everyone kind of overlooked it,” the source said. “But this was a physical thing. Kind of tough to overlook.”

If Adams is fired, who will become the coach?

Sugar Ray Leonard?

Not likely.

Leonard was named an adviser to the Olympic team’s coaching staff last March. And even though Leonard has said publicly that he would like to be the Olympic coach, sources say it is more likely that assistant coach Tom Coulter of Syracuse will be promoted.

Until the incident May 13, Adams had seemed the perfect choice for the job.

He is a black coach in a sport dominated by inner-city black athletes. He developed championship military boxing teams at Ft. Hood, and many in the sport had long ago pegged him as a cinch to one day draw an Olympic Games assignment.

Coulter is white, as is the team’s second assistant coach, Larry Ramirez of Fontana, a Mexican-American.

Ironically, a rule enacted at the same USA/ABF meeting during which Adams was awarded the head coaching job may prevent another black coach from getting it, if Adams is dismissed.

Roosevelt Sanders, a black, was Pat Nappi’s assistant coach during the 1984 Olympics and 1986 World Championships, and was the U.S. team’s head coach at the 1987 Pan American Games. But Sanders lost the top job to Adams when the federation ruled that no former Olympic team head coach or assistant coach could work a second Olympics.

Another prominent black boxing coach is Pappy Gault, the Washington-area coach who coached the 1968 Olympic team. Gault said he couldn’t discuss the Adams matter.

Turns out he is on the committee that will determine Adams’ fate June 11.