July 15, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Wieslaw `Wes' Glon, a 29-year veteran on the Penn State coaching staff, has been named the Head Coach for the Penn State men's and women's fencing teams. Glon led Penn State to the NCAA title this past year as the interim head coach.
"Wes Glon is the perfect person to carry on the amazing legacy of Penn State fencing," said Dr. David Joyner, Penn State's Director of Athletics. "He has already won an NCAA Championship and has proven himself to be an accomplished coach. His long history of commitment to Penn State and the student-athlete experience is outstanding. This is an exciting day for Penn State fencing and we very much look forward to having Wes carry on our proud and storied tradition."
Glon took the reins as Interim Head Coach in August and quickly set about the task of leading Penn State to its 13th NCAA Championship, an NCAA record. Glon led the Lion men's team to a 22-3 overall record while the women compiled a 16-10 mark. Glon then led Penn State to the NCAA title as eight Nittany Lion fencers earned All-America honors, including sophomore Kaito Streets, who won the NCAA men's saber individual title. He was named 2014 Coach of the Year by the United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) for his efforts.
"It is an honor to be named the head coach of the most successful fencing program in the country," Glon said. "I will strive to continue the tradition of success and integrity that the Penn State fencing program is known for nationally. I look forward to the challenges ahead and to the opportunity to continue Penn State's legacy of success."
Glon joined the Penn State fencing program as assistant coach in 1985 and he has been an integral part of every success Penn State has achieved during his tenure. Previously, Glon served two years as the assistant men's coach at William & Mary College where he worked with the saber team. Prior to his tenure at William and Mary, he assisted with the Austrian National team in Vienna.
Known internationally as one of the top fencing officials in the country, Glon has directed numerous finals at the United States National Championships, Olympic Sports Festivals, and other international tournaments. Glon has coached the U.S. teams for the Junior and Senior World Championships (1990-93), the Pan American Games (`91) and the Olympic Games (`92 and `96). In 1996, Glon was named Co-Coach of the Year by the U.S.F.C.A.
A native of Poland, Glon won his country's highest fencing honors in saber six times between 1975-81. He won a bronze medal at the 1979 World University Games in Mexico City, finished fourth at Romania in 1977 and seventh in Bulgaria in 1975. From 1977-81, Glon was an assistant professor of physical education at the Academy of Physical Education in Warsaw. He left Poland in 1981 and arrived in the United States in 1983. Glon earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in physical education at the Academy of Sports in Warsaw.
Glon is married and has two daughters, one of which, Nicole, was a senior on this year's Nittany Lion women's fencing squad and helped lead Penn State to the NCAA crown. Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State Fencing via Twitter www.twitter.com/pennstateFEN and on Penn State Fencing's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatefencing.