Jose Polanco named USOPC 2022 Service Provider of the Year
by USA Boxing
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) announced today that Jose Polanco, USA Boxing’s Assistant High Performance Director – Sport Performance, was named as the USOPC 2022 Service Provider of the Year for his outstanding and impactful contributions he makes to USA Boxing’s high performance teams.
“I am extremely gracious and carry much humility in solely being nominated, let alone being named the recipient of this year’s award,” stated Polanco.
“This award isn’t a representation or a testament of me, it’s indicative of the world class team I am fortunate enough to have around me. I am extremely privileged to work alongside the very best in our National Teams Athletic Trainer Maddie Kalke, National Teams Sports Dietitian Taylor Maggio, S&C fellow Gillian Brennan, and the very best boxing coaches with Head Boxing Coach Billy Walsh, and Assistant Coaches TJ Nolan, Chad Wigle, and Christine Lopez, that raise my standard daily.
Extending beyond that, I am very lucky to be able to work alongside and learn from so many knowledgeable and experienced strength and conditioning coaches, dietitians, athletic trainers, physicians, physical therapists, massage therapists, physiologists, data analysts and sports psychologists. Knowing how fortunate I am to work alongside the very best colleagues on a daily basis, this competitive environment lets me to be the very best I can be to help put our athletes be in the best position they can, day in and day out.”
In Polanco’s role as assistant director of high performance and sport performance for USA Boxing, Polanco has played a critical role in the recruitment, development, and oversight of USA Boxing’s Sport Performance staff, adding four new, full-time positions to provide the team’s athletes with wholistic services.
Throughout 2022, he also worked directly with the USOPC to develop innovative athlete profiles in the Athlete 360 platform, which will soon provide teams with data critical in constructing training and recovery plans specific to each athlete. Continuing to serve as USA Boxing’s head strength and conditioning coach, Polanco played a key role in 2022 in Team USA’s success of winning 13 medals at the Continental Championships — the best finish USA Boxing has ever achieved at the event. In addition, Polanco was an important figure in Rashida Ellis becoming the first women’s world champion in an Olympic weight since 2016.
"Jose has been a key component to the growth of USA Boxing’s High Performance program over the past several years," said Matt Johnson, USA Boxing High Performance Director. "In 2022, he stepped into his new role as Assistant High Performance Director – Sport Performance and made an immediate impact through his leadership and development of key staff members. Jose continues to go above and beyond in finding ways to push our teams to the next level, which has helped translate to better performances from Team USA inside the ring."
Polanco joined USA Boxing in Jan. 2017 as the USA Boxing National Strength and Conditioning Coach prior to being promoted to his current role in 2022.
Click here to read full Team USA announcement.