Sacred Heart University Men's Fencing

Khristopher White '15, a former Northeast Conference and New England epee champion, has been named the head coach of the Pioneers' fencing teams. White has been the Athlete Performance Manager and Program Coordinator for the Peter Westbrook Foundation, a New York City organization that addresses social, physical, academic and health barriers by using fencing to offer structured activities and academic support to underprivileged youth. He served as mentor and coach to over 150 kids while also managing more than 40 athletes from ages eight to 30 in reaching their goals in the sport. Four of those athletes qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. "I am beyond excited and thankful for the opportunity to return to my alma mater. Sacred Heart, as a school, has gone through many changes since I graduated in 2015. I have learned throughout my meetings with the athletics department that all of them have been positive," said White. Also the head fencing coach at Grace Church High School from 2015 to 2023, White transitioned the team from a school activity to a competitive team, winning multiple meets in its first year in a league. White had a decorated career as a Pioneer, helping his team win four consecutive NEC championships while twice earning all-conference honors. He was part of a first-place epee squad that led the Pioneers to a New England Intercollegiate Fencing Championship in 2015, SHU's second such title with White. He was also part of the first Sacred Heart epee unit to fini

Aleksander Fotiyev entered his first season as assistant coach of the men’s & women’s fencing programs in 2017. Fotiyev brings experience as a coach, referee & competitive fencer to the Pioneers. He most recently served as coach and owner of the Stamford Fencing Center since 2012. He also spent 12 years as saber assistant coach for Vassar College from 2005 to 2017.He has been a collegiate referee since 1998 and a certified United States Fencing Association referee since 2004. As a competitive fencer, he is a three-time national champion in the sabre team event in his native Ukraine. Fotiyev recently finished second as an individual at the Veteran National Championship in 2017.