(LEBANON, Ill., May 18)—McKendree University director of athletics
Chuck Brueggemann announced on Monday that Hossam Hassan has been hired to serve as the head coach for the Bearcats' fencing program. Hassan replaces
Pearce Wilson, who resigned from the post earlier this spring after coaching the squad during its inaugural season in 2014-15.
"We are thrilled that Hossam will be joining the McKendree family as our fencing head coach," said Brueggemann. "He brings more than 25 years of national and international coaching experience that will be invaluable as we continue to build a highly-competitive fencing program. Hossam has proven his ability to develop successful students of the sport at all levels. We believe that our student-athletes will benefit greatly from his experience and knowledge and look forward to the success he will have at McKendree."
Since 2009, Hassan has been the owner and operator of The Fencers Academy in St. Louis, a widely-respected club that has helped train some of the top talent in the area. He has coached students in all three weapons (foil, epee and sabre) in both group training sessions and individual instruction. The academy has hosted major national tournaments over the last three years, particularly with the Super Youth Circuit (SYC), the Regional Open Circuit/Regional Junior and Cadet Circuit (ROC/RJCC) and the Regional Youth Circuit (RYC).
This past season, fencers coached by Hassan have earned nine top-10 finishes in SYC competition, including a pair of first-place efforts and two second-place showings. Currently, a total of six fencers coached by Hassan are ranked in the country for their respective age groups. Among that group is Mohamed Hossam, a gold medalist at the Egypt Cadet Foil and Junior Foil Championships for 2014 and a participant in the Cadet and Junior World Championships.
"I am extremely happy to have this opportunity to serve as the head coach of the fencing program at McKendree University," said Hassan. "I want to help this program continue to grow in any way I can. There is a great opportunity to help the current members of the team learn the newest tactics as they continue to develop into better fencers, while we want to add more fencers and begin their training as well. Hopefully we will be successful as we all grow together."
A native of Egypt, Hassan began his coaching career back in 1986 at the Egyptian Fencing Club in Cairo. In 1988, Hassan moved on to the Egyptian Fencing Federation, where he served as an assistant coach for the Egyptian National Team as well as the National Senior Team. Two years later, he became the head coach at the United States Sports Academy in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. There, Hassan coached all three disciplines while promoting the sport at King Faisal Air Force Base.
From 1990-2000, Hassan was the head fencing coach for the Saudi National Foil Team before heading back to Cairo as the coach at the club senior, junior and youth levels for the Algezira Club. Hassan then returned to the Egyptian Fencing Federation as the head coach for the National Foil Junior, Senior and Youth squads.
In 2004, Hassan moved to the United States to work as the foil and epee coach at the Lotus Fencing Club in Roswell, Ga. He then settled in the St. Louis area late in 2005, where he coached at a variety of clubs before founding The Fencers Academy.
The McKendree University fencing program completed its inaugural 2014-15 season in February at the Midwest Fencing Conference Championships held on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. The Bearcats were 11-4 in dual match competition during the regular season, with all 11 victories coming against NCAA Division II institutions.
