10th year at Penn State
Coach George "Gia" Abashidze is returning for his tenth year as assistant coach and brings a long list of collegiate and international coaching experience with him.
A former member of the USSR’s National Foil Team, Abashidze’s team competed in numerous international tournaments, with Abashidze winning his nation’s foil crown. Before coming to the United States, Abashidze coached the Georgian National Team.
Abashidze came to the United States and coached club fencing in Portland, Ore. before taking an assistant coaching position at Ohio State. While in Columbus, Abashidze helped Ohio State’s foilists win five NCAA?individual titles.
Among his athletes are Monique DeBruin, David Willette, Olympian Daniel Gomez and Individual World Champion Miles Chamley-Watson. Abashidze also coached 2008 Olympians Hanna Thompson and Doris Willette, who won the team foil Silver Medal.
Abashidze and his wife, Ia, have three children (Guram,who fenced at Penn State; Anna and Sophia). The Abashidzes reside in State College.