Braddock Koch – Meritorious Service

Being named after a fighter – Irish-American James Braddock, Braddock Koch was destined to forge a life in the boxing ring. As a competitor in his home province of British Columbia, Koch would win Inland Empire Championships, Provincial and Western Canadian crowns and captured a Bronze at nationals. Upon moving to Prince Albert at the age of 20, Koch knew it was time to give back to the sport and become a coach.

Koch was more than a coach for his hundreds of athletes from the Tut Coombs Boxing Club and Wildcats Boxing Club for 22 years from 1989-2011. Koch understood many kids who take up boxing have life challenges just like he did when he got into the sport at age 11. Many come from broken families and turn to boxing as a sport and also a lifestyle. Koch would ensure, as much as he could, that that lifestyle was a positive one.

He would act as Uncle, Father, Grandfather as well as coach to many of his athletes. Besides training them in the technical skills of the sport, Koch would guide many through life on a day to day basis.

Koch would coach at 22 Saskatchewan Championships, bringing home Champions in 20 of those years. He also would be the Head Coach for the Zone 8 Boxing team for 8 years at Saskatchewan Winter Games. 3 times boxers under Koch’s tutelage would attend Canadian Championships with the best result being a silver medal.

One of Koch’s top accomplishments was as the Coach of Team Saskatchewan at the first ever North American Indigenous Games in Edmonton. The 11 boxers he took would bring home 4 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze medals.

In 2011 Koch’s life took a new direction as he retired from being a boxing coach to become a member of the clergy.