Prado, who founded the Ki-Itsu-Sai Judo Club in Coral Springs which serves as one of the four national training sites of USA Judo, said: "I am really proud and honoured to be appointed the head coach of the Pan American Games team.

"I look forward to helping our athletes bring home a lot of medals.

"I feel like we have a solid team, so I feel like we should have good results.

"This is a team that I have been following since they were juniors, so it's great to have the opportunity to coach them as adults."

Some of that team will include Kayla Harrison, Michael Eldred, Kyle Vashkulat and Angelica Delgado, who all harbour hopes of competing in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Prado brings experience of his time as the assistant coach of the squad at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro and has been involved in every senior championships since 2006.

He has also been a part of each USA Junior National side since 2004, having been the head coach of the 2004 Infantile Pan American Championship squad and the 2007 Junior World Championship team.

Assisting Prado will be team manager Chris Skelley, who has been in his post since 2009 and been involved in each World Championship and Pan-American Championship in the last two years.

"I'm really looking forward to the Pan American Games," Skelley said.

"I think it's a good opening to get us ready for the Olympics.

"Winning a medal here is another step closer to London."

"It's not just the level of competition that will help us get ready, but the whole format will be similar [to the Olympics].

"With opening ceremonies and an athlete village, the level of excitement will have an Olympic feel to it."

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