Our Leader…
Johnny “Coach” Callas, MSW
Founder-Executive Director-Head Coach
Johnny Callas, known as "Coach," is a 30-year World Championship Professional Boxing Referee, licensed in five jurisdictions and often seen on ESPN, HBO and SHOWTIME. He has refereed scores of professional boxers – from Female Hall of Famer Lucia Ryker to World Champions Miguel Cotto, Andre Ward, Chad Dawson, Victor Ortiz, Mickey Ward, Errol Spence and Jermal Charlo.
Callas himself was a National Collegiate Boxing Champion (NCBA) out of Central Connecticut State University, who went on to be a three time All-American and represented the U.S.A. in international competitions against Russia, Czechoslovakia and the Brunei Olympic Team. Twice, he was voted the best Pound for Pound Boxer in the Northeast. In 1985, during his reign as NCBA Champion, many called Callas “pound for pound the best in the country.” After college, Callas served as Head Coach of the “Blue Devil” Boxing Team at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU). Under his tutelage, the "Blue Devils" earned a top ten national ranking, produced five All-Americans and competed internationally.
It was during his time at CCSU when Callas developed the vision for Charter Oak Boxing Academy (COBA), which he founded in 1988 in collaboration with the Hartford Housing Authority. Situated at Charter Oak Terrace/Rice Heights Housing Project, one of the most gang/drug-infested public housing projects in Hartford, COBA was considered a USA Boxing, Inc. national model that created not only “Champions in the Ring” but also “Champions of Life.” Within a 10-year period, COBA seized 74 amateur titles and boasted six state Junior Olympic Championship Teams. In 1995, Ring Magazine, “the bible of boxing,” praised COBA for being: "A Boxing Club Where Life is The Main Event!" To this day, COBA continues building strong, educated and compassionate citizens committed to equity and justice for all. As Callas puts it, “Amateur boxing is a teaching metaphor for life that instills self-discipline, humility, tenacity and overall well-being.”
Callas is the protégé of his own coach, the revered Hartford Physical Education/Boxing Legend and Leader of Men, Connecticut Hall of Famer Billy Taylor. Under his tutelage, Callas soared. In 2011, the World Boxing Council presented him with the "WBC Hero Award" for his work with children. In 2013 he was inducted into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame. In 2015 Coach Callas founded and is currently Director-Head Coach of the Trinity College "Boxing Bantam" National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) Program, which makes its home at COBA.
Callas is a 34-year veteran of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, where he serves as Ombudsman for the DCF Commissioner. With a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut, he specializes in adolescent development, substance abuse, mental health and juvenile justice.