Maestro Ed Korfanty

U.S. National Women's Sabre Coach
Head Coach - Oregon Fencing Alliance
Director of Fencing Programs, Head Coach - Oregon Episcopal School

U.S. Fencing Coaches Association Distinguished Merit Award for International Coaching - Coach of the Year 2005
U.S. Olympic Committee - Coach of the Year, 2000, 2003, 2004
 U.S. Fencing Association - Coach of the Year 2003
                                                         USFA Western Region Developmental Coach of the Year, 1997

2004 Silver Medalist - Veteran'sWorld Championships - Men's Saber
2003 World Champion - Men's Veteran Sabre (50-59)
2002 World Champion - Men's Veteran Sabre (50-59)

 
Coach Korfanty with his students Caitlin Thompson, Rebecca Ward, Mariel Zagunis. All 3 are on the US. Sr. Women's Team.       
Photo courtesy of Cathy Zagunis

Ed Korfanty was born in Poland. He started fencing at age 16.  He quickly developed into a top ranked fencer in Poland and fenced a number of years on the Polish Junior and Senior National Teams. In this era, the Polish team was considered to be one of the strongest contingencies in the world. Mr. Korfanty graduated from the reknowned Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Poland with a master's degree in Physical Education and a Master of Fencing degree.  By 1984 he had become the head coach at the Olympic Center in Katowice, Poland and coach of the Polish National Team. Under his guidance the Polish team flourished and in 1989 he received the award from the Minister of Sport and Culture in Poland for excellent achievements in sport. In 1990 Coach Korfanty immigrated to the United States and became assistant fencing coach at the University of Notre Dame.

In 1993 he was recruited by Colleen Olney (mother of Michael and Robert Marx), to come to the Oregon Fencing Alliance (OFA) as Head Coach, along with the Head Coach position at the Oregon Episcopal School, in Portland, Oregon. Colleen Olney was  coaching and developing OFA into a powerful center of fencing in all 3 weapons of sabre, foil and epee.

Maestro Korfanty’s first student to make historical progress in US fencing was Seth Kelsey. As a cadet epee fencer, Kelsey made the Cadet, Junior and Senior US National teams in epee in one season. No fencer prior to this had made three different age group national teams in the same season (read Kelsey's story from The Gazette "Kelsey glad he took a stab at fencing" here). Under his direction, the Oregon Fencing Alliance Club moved to become a one weapon club in 2000 concentrating solely on sabre fencing. The accomplishments of his students have been extraordinary and unmatched, not only in the history of US fencing but in the history of World fencing. His students have won more World Championship medals under his tutelage and set an unprecedented marker for others to admire.

His students have won 9 Individual Gold Medals at World Championships including the Olympic Gold in Athens last summer. Additionally as US National Coach of Women’s Sabre the US Women’s Sabre team has won 5 Gold medals in the Team World Championships. Add to that the additional individual and team medals won at the World Championships and it makes 9 more medals.

 His most recognized student is Mariel Zagunis who started her fencing career with him at age 10 and continues under his tutelage. She has won an unprecedented 3 individual World Championship Gold medals (Cadet in 2001, Junior in 2001, Junior in 2005) and the first OLYMPIC Gold medal for US fencing since the era of modern fencing. She has been a member of all 5 teams that won World Championship Gold medals for US Fencing. In 2006 Ms. Zagunis also won the NCAA female saber championship title. Other notable students include Caitlin Thompson - 2004 Cadet World Champion, Rebecca Ward: 2005 FIE overall Jr. World Champion - 2006 Cadet World Champion - 2006 Jr. World Champion - 2006 Jr. World Team Champion member, Patrick Ghattas and William Thanhouser.

 He continues to be recognized internationally by his students being honored as the World Cup FIE holder in Junior Women’s sabre for the last 4 consecutive years. The US Women’s sabre team won the FIE team World Cup honor in 2003, and the 2005 World Championships in Germany.

 Ed and new Olympic Champion Mariel Zagunis in Athens, 2004. Mariel shows her medal.

            Ed with Mariel Zagunis in Budapest2006 after she
                               wins the silver medal at the World Cup.

Ed with Caitlin "Caity" Thompson, 2004 Cadet World Champion, and 2005 US Team member.

          
A young Rebecca Ward with Coach Korfanty. Photo courtesy of Beth Ward