Abdel Salem with Mary McElwee and his son, James Salem.
Fencing Head Coach Abdel Salem Announces Retirement
5/6/2019 12:58:00 PM | Fencing
With the completion of the 2018-19 season, Abdel Salem announced his retirement as head coach for Air Force fencing. Salem retires as the winningest coach in program history with 357 career wins.
"I had a good career at the Academy that I am very proud of," Salem said. "It was an honor to work with and develop so many cadet-athletes as fencers and as future leaders in our Air Force and beyond. I am proud of having a hand in developing this program to where it is today."
Salem took over the women's program as head coach in 1997-98, posting a 171-181 record in 22 seasons. He took over the men's program in 1998-99, compiling a 186-140 record in 21 seasons. He is Air Force's winningest women's coach and ranks second in wins as the men's coach.
In his 22 years at Air Force, Salem coached 26 NCAA All-Americans and 80 NCAA qualifiers. Salem coached one NCAA Champion in Seth Kelsey, the 2003 NCAA Epee Champion.
Salem led Air Force to Top-20 finishes at the NCAA's 17 times. His 2002-03 team finished ninth overall with six NCAA qualifiers, including two All-Americans in Kelsey and Peter French.
Salem's 2018-19 team went a combined 25-18. The women's team earned 13 wins for the second-consecutive season, which is the third best mark in Salem's tenure. This season's team produced three NCAA qualifiers in sophomore Nicole Agob, junior Jordan Griffith and freshman Nestor Levin. Agob earned her trip to the NCAA's by winning the NCAA West Region Epee Championship, marking the second-consecutive season that Air Force had a West Region champion.
A 1980 graduate of the University of Alexandria, Egypt, with a doctorate in medicine, Salem was a 10-year member of the Egyptian National Fencing team and competed in the 1984 Olympics. In 1996, Salem was named the U.S. Olympic Committee Coach of the Year.
Before coming to the Academy, he was the head coach at the Lone Star Fencing Center in Dallas, Texas. He founded the center in 1989 and developed fencers from the novice skill level to the advanced competitor, including the United States national team members. During his time at Lone Star, Salem was also the fencing coach for the St. Mark's School in Dallas.
Salem taught a fencing course as the fencing instructor at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. His first head coaching position was at the Fairmont Park Fencing Center in Philadelphia. As head coach at the club from 1987-89, Salem taught U.S. Olympic and world team members along with hosting the U.S. Foil team championships. He was also the assistant coach at University of Pennsylvania from 1986-1988.
Salem has also been involved in many national teams and clubs. Since 1993, he has been a staff member at the U.S. Olympic Training Center as he participated in the U.S. Coaches College for the United States Fencing Association. The clinics help teach coaching skills to new coaches as well as offer current coaches new techniques. A coach at five U.S. Olympic Sports Festivals, Salem was also involved with many U.S. Junior and Cadet teams.
Salem's coaching career in the United States began in 1984 at the Westside Fencing Center in Los Angeles. In 1986, he moved on to the Salle Calazar Fencing Center in Philadelphia where he assisted in hosting the U.S. epee team championships. After graduating from Alexandria and during his Olympic efforts, Salem was a practicing general physician in Egypt for four years.
Salem and his wife, Kathy, have one son, James, who is a 2015 USAFA graduate. James was a two-time NCAA qualifier with USAFA Fencing, earning All-American honors in 2015.
"Our staff and I have been able to bring in top-notch athletes that will continue to elevate this program," Salem added. "I am also proud that we were able to secure our recently new fencing facility. It is now one of the best fencing facilities in the country. I had a lot of fun and will miss working with the cadets and staff."
"We wish Coach Salem all the best in his retirement from the Academy after 22 years of guiding our fencing program," Air Force Director of Athletics Nathan Pine said. "He has left a tremendous mark on the Air Force program in his two-plus decades at the Academy. We are grateful for his leadership and help in developing leaders of character for our Air Force and nation."
"I had a good career at the Academy that I am very proud of," Salem said. "It was an honor to work with and develop so many cadet-athletes as fencers and as future leaders in our Air Force and beyond. I am proud of having a hand in developing this program to where it is today."
Salem took over the women's program as head coach in 1997-98, posting a 171-181 record in 22 seasons. He took over the men's program in 1998-99, compiling a 186-140 record in 21 seasons. He is Air Force's winningest women's coach and ranks second in wins as the men's coach.
In his 22 years at Air Force, Salem coached 26 NCAA All-Americans and 80 NCAA qualifiers. Salem coached one NCAA Champion in Seth Kelsey, the 2003 NCAA Epee Champion.
Salem led Air Force to Top-20 finishes at the NCAA's 17 times. His 2002-03 team finished ninth overall with six NCAA qualifiers, including two All-Americans in Kelsey and Peter French.
Salem's 2018-19 team went a combined 25-18. The women's team earned 13 wins for the second-consecutive season, which is the third best mark in Salem's tenure. This season's team produced three NCAA qualifiers in sophomore Nicole Agob, junior Jordan Griffith and freshman Nestor Levin. Agob earned her trip to the NCAA's by winning the NCAA West Region Epee Championship, marking the second-consecutive season that Air Force had a West Region champion.
A 1980 graduate of the University of Alexandria, Egypt, with a doctorate in medicine, Salem was a 10-year member of the Egyptian National Fencing team and competed in the 1984 Olympics. In 1996, Salem was named the U.S. Olympic Committee Coach of the Year.
Before coming to the Academy, he was the head coach at the Lone Star Fencing Center in Dallas, Texas. He founded the center in 1989 and developed fencers from the novice skill level to the advanced competitor, including the United States national team members. During his time at Lone Star, Salem was also the fencing coach for the St. Mark's School in Dallas.
Salem taught a fencing course as the fencing instructor at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. His first head coaching position was at the Fairmont Park Fencing Center in Philadelphia. As head coach at the club from 1987-89, Salem taught U.S. Olympic and world team members along with hosting the U.S. Foil team championships. He was also the assistant coach at University of Pennsylvania from 1986-1988.
Salem has also been involved in many national teams and clubs. Since 1993, he has been a staff member at the U.S. Olympic Training Center as he participated in the U.S. Coaches College for the United States Fencing Association. The clinics help teach coaching skills to new coaches as well as offer current coaches new techniques. A coach at five U.S. Olympic Sports Festivals, Salem was also involved with many U.S. Junior and Cadet teams.
Salem's coaching career in the United States began in 1984 at the Westside Fencing Center in Los Angeles. In 1986, he moved on to the Salle Calazar Fencing Center in Philadelphia where he assisted in hosting the U.S. epee team championships. After graduating from Alexandria and during his Olympic efforts, Salem was a practicing general physician in Egypt for four years.
Salem and his wife, Kathy, have one son, James, who is a 2015 USAFA graduate. James was a two-time NCAA qualifier with USAFA Fencing, earning All-American honors in 2015.
"Our staff and I have been able to bring in top-notch athletes that will continue to elevate this program," Salem added. "I am also proud that we were able to secure our recently new fencing facility. It is now one of the best fencing facilities in the country. I had a lot of fun and will miss working with the cadets and staff."
"We wish Coach Salem all the best in his retirement from the Academy after 22 years of guiding our fencing program," Air Force Director of Athletics Nathan Pine said. "He has left a tremendous mark on the Air Force program in his two-plus decades at the Academy. We are grateful for his leadership and help in developing leaders of character for our Air Force and nation."
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, March 18
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Tuesday, March 03
Tuesday, February 10
