Our mission is to provide disadvantaged young men and women with an alternative to drug use, gang violence, hopelessness and despair. Founded on the principles that physical well being, moral strength, emotional health and a hopeful outlook can be nurtured simultaneously.
Meet Our Team
Vince Kittle
Head Coach / Executive Director
Vince has 35+ years experience as a boxing coach and mentor to young people and adults alike. He is a USA Boxing certified Silver Level Coach. Coach Kittle was inducted into the Marine Corps Boxing Hall of Fame and is an All Marine Corp Gold Medalist, as well as an All Services Silver Medalist. “Coach”, as he is referred to at the gym, would rather ignore the accolades and simply say, “We love what we do”!
Nasir Mayfield
Director of Training
Nasir has seven years experience as a boxer and is a two-time Silver Gloves champion, winning the title in both 2013 and 2015. “Coach Nas”, shifted gears in 2018 to bring his knowledge and skill set to coaching. He is a certified USA Boxing Bronze Level coach. His positive mindset and ability to motivate others, serves us well, as Coach Nas leads our Youth Program and Train Like a Pro adult classes. In addition, Coach Nas is actively training our competitive boxers and collecting wins and titles! In his spare time, Nasir volunteers with an organization called Community Fathers, whose focus is to rebuild the community.
Kenneth Brooks
Coach
Kenneth has been coaching boxing since 2016 and has been with the Ring of Hope for over 5 years. Kenneth currently heads the Mont Pleasant and Central Park Middle School programs and oversees the Youth Program with Coach Nas. Additionally, Kenneth coaches ringside for the competition team and is a certified USA Boxing Bronze Level coach. Outside of boxing, Kenneth is the Assistant Director of Community Fathers and Coordinator of the Urban Environmental Study Team at the Schoharie River Center. Kenneth has a passion for enhancing the lives of our youth.
Jacki Kinnicutt-Sawyer
Operations Coordinator/Trainer
Jacki has been boxing with the Ring of Hope for nine years. She handles our administrative needs and leads the Tuesday/Thursday evening Train Like A Pro class and often the Saturday class. Jacki is a USA Boxing certified Bronze Level coach and Level I official and recently began a girls boxing program at Schenectady High School. Outside of boxing, Jacki is active in the Hoosic Valley community and is a mom to 2 young men.
Jerrick Jones
Coach
Jerrick has 35+ years experience as a boxing coach. He is a former team coach at both the national and junior national levels. Jerrick has trained world champions and coached two Olympians, as well as two Olympian alternates. He is currently the Vice President of the Adirondack Local Boxing Commission. As a certified USA Boxing Elite Level coach and widely recognized cornerman, Jerrick consistently brings innovative training methods to the Ring of Hope.