Charlene Kai Yan Liu

Biography

Brown University’s Samuel M. Mencoff ‘78 Vice President for Athletics and Recreation M. Grace Calhoun ‘92, Ph.D., announced today the appointment of Charlene Kai Yan Liu as the new head coach of the women’s fencing program on August 13, 2025. Kai Liu is the fourth head coach in program history. “We are thrilled to welcome Kai Liu to College Hill! She brings a fantastic resume of success, both in the Ivy League and nationally, as a competitor and as a coach,” Calhoun said. “We look forward to her leadership of the next chapter for Brown Women’s Fencing.” “I’m honored and excited to be named the head coach at Brown,” Liu said. “What a tremendous opportunity, and I’m fully committed to partnering with our student-athletes, alumni, and leadership to see Brown Fencing reach new heights.” Liu comes to Brown after spending four years as an assistant coach at Yale, helping the Bulldogs program earn three top-11 finishes at the NCAA Fencing Championships. During her tenure, Liu coached six All-Americans, eight All-Ivy competitors, and two Ivy League champions. A 2019 graduate of Princeton, Liu finished second at the 2016 NCAA Championships, was first at the 2017 Mid-Atlantic Regionals, and earned All-America and First Team All-Ivy recognition. She also led Princeton to two Ivy League championships. Following graduation from Princeton, Liu received her M.A. in Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership from the University of Missouri in 2021. Liu was a member of the 2014 USA Cadet World