Alumnus Returns to Lead Fencing

Posted on April 10, 2019

Matt Jednak ’09, a former Tar Heel fencer and assistant coach, has been named head coach of the men’s and women’s fencing teams. Jednak is just the second coach in the program’s history, following Ron Miller ’76 (PhD), who came to UNC in 1967 and was at the helm for 52 years.

A three-year letter winner as part of the men’s epee squad, Jednak was a Carolina assistant coach (2009-14) before founding an accounting and tax firm, which he continues to manage, while coaching fencing on the club level.

Jednak has coached locally as part of the N.C. Fencing Development Program and with Apex Fencing Academy, where he has worked with several national medal winners.

“Even as a student in our program, Matt embraced the teaching aspect of the team and was always looking for ways to help his teammates improve,” Miller said. “He has exceptional interpersonal skills, both communicating one-on-one and running a group, and I think the combination of that and his teaching skills make him a great fit for this position. He has experience across all three weapons, which is fairly rare.”

Miller compiled a career record of 1,603-900. He initially retired last spring but stayed on for the 2018-19 season as UNC completed a search for a new coach.

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