A Coach Who Won’t Pull Punches

Ed Kostiuck spent 23 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and later taught in the Devil Pups, a boot camp-type experience for boys.

Now Kostiuck, a retired gunnery sergeant who holds a black belt in karate, has new marching orders as manager of the Anaheim Boxing Club.

Youngsters won’t be calling him “Sergeant,” and he won’t be barking orders at them. But Kostiuck, friendly and soft-spoken, says he will use a military-style approach to discipline that he hopes will build character in young boxers and turn them into champions.

“I just want to instill self-esteem and discipline, and try to show them that they can have fun. But they have to be serious about their schoolwork and their responsibility to society,” said Kostiuck, 45.

The city-operated club, in an old church building on West Broadway near City Hall, draws many of its young clients from Anaheim’s tougher neighborhoods, officials said.

When they set out to hire a manager, they sought someone who could project an image of authority yet relate well to the youngsters who drop by to spar, punch bags or lift weights.

“We’ve been looking for someone who was a role model, who projected a positive image and who could take control and mix with the kids--and he’s done that,” Councilman Lou Lopez said of Kostiuck.

“He’s won over the kids and the trainers. He was the person we were missing there,” said Lopez, who is a police officer, former professional boxer and co-founder of the 25-year-old club. Lopez recently organized a fund-raiser that netted $17,000 to buy equipment.

Since Kostiuck took over the job in mid-September, he has quickly earned the respect and admiration of the young athletes.

Said Jose Reyes, 11: “He’s a good manager for the club because he’s nice to everyone.”

The young boxer said Kostiuck has also imposed strict new rules, such as no running in the gym and no use of profanity. Violators face a penalty of 10 push-ups for the former and 20 push-ups for the latter.

“They’re good rules for the gym,” the youngster said.

Kostiuck has added a boxing program for women, opened a recreation room and has plans to add Saturday hours soon.

He has also spruced up the gym, which draws 125 youngsters and adults on a typical day. A giant American flag now adorns one wall, and the floor is cleaned regularly.

“He’s made a lot of improvements,” trainer Eric Garcia said.

Ed Brown, 66, who spars with youngsters, said Kostiuck views himself as a partner in the gym rather than as a manager “who just sits in the office.”

Kostiuck said his inspiration is the young athletes: “I want every kid who walks out that door to be focused on school and have a positive outlook on life--and to know that there is nothing that they can’t do.”