Alexander Massialas enters his first season as head coach of the Stanford fencing program, after a standout career as a student-athlete on The Farm.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to be back on campus to work with a program that has meant so much to me over the years,” said Massialas. “I loved my time as a member of the Stanford Fencing Team and am ready to give 100% to the student-athletes in this new role."
Massialas returns to The Farm as head coach after cementing himself as one of the best fencers in Cardinal history. A two-time NCAA champion in men’s foil (2013, 2015), Massialas picked up four First-Team All-America selections in his collegiate career. Massialas’ individual national championship in his freshman season (2013) made him the youngest athlete to win a Division I men’s foil national championship.
Internationally, Massialas’ resume is even more historic. Paris was his fourth Olympics appearance, after already becoming the first American male fencer to win two Olympic medals in a single Games since 1904, and the first to win a silver medal since 1932. His international trophy case includes three Olympic medals (one silver, two bronze), and five Senior World Championship Team medals (one gold, four silver).
“I am very pleased to welcome Alexander back to The Farm to lead a program he has impacted so immensely as a student-athlete and alumnus,” said Muir. “Alexander has competed, and succeeded, at the highest levels of the sport and brings a tremendous amount of experience, passion and investment to our program. I look forward to working with him, and am excited for our student-athletes to learn from one of the best fencers in the world.”
Massialas is a native of San Francisco and graduated from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2017. He will join the Cardinal after finishing competition at this month’s Summer Olympics in Paris.