Damian Kennedy has been appointed as the Irish Athletic Boxing Association's high performance head coach on an interim basis, following the departure of Zauri Antia.
Kennedy boasts three decades of coaching experience and headed the coaching team when four Irish fighters qualified for the 2024 Olympics via the Olympic qualifier in Bangkok.
The Antrim man also served as head coach for Northern Ireland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where the team topped the boxing medals table with a record number of podium finishes.
Speaking after the confirmation of his new role, Kennedy said: "It's an honour to lead the national programme on an interim basis, to build on the legacy of boxing technical excellence learned from and with Zauri.
"He and I worked hand-in-glove to prepare boxers for the highest levels of competition across many years, ably assisted by high performance coaches in Dublin and in Ulster.
"There’s an exciting and challenging competition period just around the corner, and I look forward to further supporting IABA boxers in achieving their goals."
IABA chief executive Gary Stewart said: "Continuity of excellence is vital in a high performance setting, and for the future of Irish boxing. Damian is highly regarded at home and internationally, with excellent working relationships in both settings. We’re delighted that he has accepted this interim position."
The IABA will begin the recruitment process for a permanent successor to Antia in the new year after the Georgian announced his retirement after 10 hugely successful years in the role last month.
