Air Force Fencing Announces Christine Griffith and Brent Kelly As Assistant Coaches
10/26/2023 10:00:00 AM | Fencing
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Christine Griffith and Brent Kelly have been named Air Force fencing assistant coaches, announced today by Interim Head Coach ADi Nott.
Griffith comes to the Academy from Cleveland State University, where she was the head coach of the men's and women's fencing programs. Kelly comes to the Falcons from the business intelligence and analytics field of work, in addition to working with fencers at Northern Colorado Fencers in Boulder, Colo.
"I'm excited to work with these energetic and passionate coaches," Nott said. "The team has been able to hold their own through this coaching transition and I feel that through dedication, hard work, and believing in our strength, these coaches can help build up the team with their skills and enthusiasm."
Griffith was the first-ever full-time fencing coach in Cleveland State fencing history, earning the title in February of 2022.
In that season, Griffith aided in the men's team placing second and the women's team third at the Central Collegiate Conference Championships. At the championship, all three men's weapons teams finished as the runner-up while the women's epee team placed third overall. The Vikings brought in seven All-Conference awards with four on the men's side and three on the women's.
Prior to her stint at Cleveland State, Griffith spent the previous 11 years with the Rochester Fencing Club in Rochester, New York. In that time, she served as an associate head coach of the saber program, and as head saber coach since 2017. In addition, she was the Youth Development Coordinator since 2020. Her duties included leading individual and group instruction of the competitive saber program, and the development of introductory, intermediate, and advanced youth programs.
Griffith worked as an adjunct fencing instructor at RIT for the Spring 2020 semester, teaching courses on foil, epee, and saber. She also coached the Canandaigua Academy High School fencing program 2017-19.
Griffith fenced collegiately at Temple University, qualifying for the NCAA Championships in 2007 and 2008. During the 2008 season, she was the NIWFA Women's Saber Champion and MVP. Griffith ended her career with 152 victories. Off the strip, she earned the Owl Club Academic award in 2009.
Griffith graduated from Temple University with a bachelor of science in kinesiology & exercise science. Most recently in 2023, she participated in the WeCoach NCAA Women Coaches Academy, designed to enhance leadership skills, self-awareness, and coaching effectiveness.
Prior to joining the coaching staff at the Academy, Kelly worked in business intelligence and analytics (Google, Capital One, Spectrum) and mentored college-competitiveness-focused high school and middle school aged fencers at Northern Colorado Fencers in Boulder, Colorado.
Kelly is a 2011 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor's of science in mechanical engineering and a proud alumnus of the Fighting Irish Fencing Team. He competed in the 2011 NCAA Championships for the Irish, contributing to the team championship title after placing third in the 2011 NCAA Midwest Regional qualifier competition.
Kelly also fenced for Columbia University, competing in the 2008 NCAA Championship and contributing to the 2007 and 2008 Ivy Championship Columbia team title as first-team and second-team All-Ivy, respectively.
His coaching philosophy and methodology is a combined approach of analytical rigor, contemplative mindfulness, and competitive fervor. This mentality has developed through vast and various exposure to magnificent coaches spanning the spectrum of focus from developmental to elite-competitive. This coaching pedigree includes (but is not limited to): Aladar Kogler (Columbia), Gia Kvaratskhelia and Marek Stepien (Notre Dame), Gary Copeland and Scott Permer (Northern Colorado Fencers), Jens Stephan (UCSD), Seth Kelsey (Air Force / Olympic Training Center), Jim Carpenter (Gold Blade / Stevens Institute of Technology) & Mohamed El Sakhawy (Gold Blade Fencing).
Kelly ardently believes in competitive fencing as a means of developing a more disciplined, more resilient, and more self-aware depth of character, as well as a means of developing a deeper respect for the immense value of teamwork, personal responsibility, and sense of community.
Kelly is immensely grateful to now have the opportunity to work with and learn further from coach Sebastien Dos Santos and coach Adi Nott at the US Air Force Academy, and looks forward to helping lead the Falcons into a productive and successful 2023-24 season.
Griffith comes to the Academy from Cleveland State University, where she was the head coach of the men's and women's fencing programs. Kelly comes to the Falcons from the business intelligence and analytics field of work, in addition to working with fencers at Northern Colorado Fencers in Boulder, Colo.
"I'm excited to work with these energetic and passionate coaches," Nott said. "The team has been able to hold their own through this coaching transition and I feel that through dedication, hard work, and believing in our strength, these coaches can help build up the team with their skills and enthusiasm."
Griffith was the first-ever full-time fencing coach in Cleveland State fencing history, earning the title in February of 2022.
In that season, Griffith aided in the men's team placing second and the women's team third at the Central Collegiate Conference Championships. At the championship, all three men's weapons teams finished as the runner-up while the women's epee team placed third overall. The Vikings brought in seven All-Conference awards with four on the men's side and three on the women's.
Prior to her stint at Cleveland State, Griffith spent the previous 11 years with the Rochester Fencing Club in Rochester, New York. In that time, she served as an associate head coach of the saber program, and as head saber coach since 2017. In addition, she was the Youth Development Coordinator since 2020. Her duties included leading individual and group instruction of the competitive saber program, and the development of introductory, intermediate, and advanced youth programs.
Griffith worked as an adjunct fencing instructor at RIT for the Spring 2020 semester, teaching courses on foil, epee, and saber. She also coached the Canandaigua Academy High School fencing program 2017-19.
Griffith fenced collegiately at Temple University, qualifying for the NCAA Championships in 2007 and 2008. During the 2008 season, she was the NIWFA Women's Saber Champion and MVP. Griffith ended her career with 152 victories. Off the strip, she earned the Owl Club Academic award in 2009.
Griffith graduated from Temple University with a bachelor of science in kinesiology & exercise science. Most recently in 2023, she participated in the WeCoach NCAA Women Coaches Academy, designed to enhance leadership skills, self-awareness, and coaching effectiveness.
Prior to joining the coaching staff at the Academy, Kelly worked in business intelligence and analytics (Google, Capital One, Spectrum) and mentored college-competitiveness-focused high school and middle school aged fencers at Northern Colorado Fencers in Boulder, Colorado.
Kelly is a 2011 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor's of science in mechanical engineering and a proud alumnus of the Fighting Irish Fencing Team. He competed in the 2011 NCAA Championships for the Irish, contributing to the team championship title after placing third in the 2011 NCAA Midwest Regional qualifier competition.
Kelly also fenced for Columbia University, competing in the 2008 NCAA Championship and contributing to the 2007 and 2008 Ivy Championship Columbia team title as first-team and second-team All-Ivy, respectively.
His coaching philosophy and methodology is a combined approach of analytical rigor, contemplative mindfulness, and competitive fervor. This mentality has developed through vast and various exposure to magnificent coaches spanning the spectrum of focus from developmental to elite-competitive. This coaching pedigree includes (but is not limited to): Aladar Kogler (Columbia), Gia Kvaratskhelia and Marek Stepien (Notre Dame), Gary Copeland and Scott Permer (Northern Colorado Fencers), Jens Stephan (UCSD), Seth Kelsey (Air Force / Olympic Training Center), Jim Carpenter (Gold Blade / Stevens Institute of Technology) & Mohamed El Sakhawy (Gold Blade Fencing).
Kelly ardently believes in competitive fencing as a means of developing a more disciplined, more resilient, and more self-aware depth of character, as well as a means of developing a deeper respect for the immense value of teamwork, personal responsibility, and sense of community.
Kelly is immensely grateful to now have the opportunity to work with and learn further from coach Sebastien Dos Santos and coach Adi Nott at the US Air Force Academy, and looks forward to helping lead the Falcons into a productive and successful 2023-24 season.
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