UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Men's Epee coach Alexei Sintchinov was named the Men's Team Assistant Coach of the Year by the United States Fencing Coaches Association Thursday. This is Sintchinov's first time earning the prestigious award under head coach Wes Glon.
"I want to thank the USFCA for selecting me for this award," said Sintchinov. "I am humbled and grateful to be chosen amongst my very talented and esteemed colleagues."
This past year, Sintchinov played an integral part in the Penn State fencing team's success. He helped lead the Penn State to a second place finish at the 2021 NCAA Championships in March where he saw men's epee fencers Jonathan Piskovatskov (Houston, Texas) and Ryan Griffiths (Fair Lawn, N.J.) both become All-Americans. Piskovatskov took third place and Griffiths won the NCAA title. Before the NCAA Championships, Sintchinov coached the Nittany Lions to a winning regular season record, 6-3, in dual meet competition.
"Coach Sintchinov has been an integral part of our team's success and specifically the epee program's success in the last few years," said Glon. "We are very happy to have him recognized for his students' performances during the 2021 NCAAs and we congratulate him for this well-deserved award."
This is Coach Sintchinov's seventh year as an assistant coach at Penn State. Before coaching at Penn State, he was the head coach of the Belarus, Egypt and Tunisia National Teams. He also previously coached at Ohio State for three years and helped the Buckeyes win the 2012 NCAA Championship.
A native of Belarus, Sintchinov studied at the Belarussian State Institute of Physical Culture and Sport where he specialized in coaching and teaching. He has been coaching professionally since 1976 and is recognized as a Master of Sport in Fencing.
