Zanders will coach US boxers at 2012 Olympics

Joe Zanders, the national coach for USA Boxing, will be the head coach of the U.S. boxing squad at next summer's London Olympics.

USA Boxing's board of directors praised Zanders' coaching philosophy and leadership in announcing the appointment Thursday, saying he'll be a ''key element'' in returning the Americans to international prominence. The U.S. has 109 medals in Olympic boxing, best of any country. But the Americans have won just one gold medal at the last three games, and managed only one medal, a bronze, in 2008.

Zanders took over as USA Boxing's national coach in January. An amateur coach for more than 30 years, he's led U.S. teams at the world championships and Goodwill Games, and was an assistant at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.