University of North Carolina Athletics
Largaespada Joins UNC Fencing Staff
December 1, 2021 | Fencing
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Fatima Largaespada has joined the UNC fencing team as an assistant coach, head coach Matt Jednak announced on Wednesday. Largaespada, who goes by "Fati," brings to the program experience as a head coach and international-caliber fencer.
"We are so happy to welcome Fati to our family," Jednak said. "She has such an amazing energy and passion for fencing and teaching. I am very excited for her to share her experiences with our team, and I know that she will be a valuable part of our program."
At UNC, Largaespada works with all aspects of the Tar Heel program with a focus on the foil fencers. In addition to coaching, she continues to fence competitively in sabre and represented the Nicaraguan National Fencing Team at the 2020 Olympic Trials.
Largaespada served as head coach at Wagner through the program's first two seasons, managing all aspects of the program including recruiting, equipment and facilities in addition to coaching. She began the 2016-17 school year with just two fencers on the roster, but eventually built the fledgling program to 14 fencers and saw several of her Seahawks qualify for NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals in both 2017 and 2018.
After completing her MBA from Wagner, she spent a year working in consulting before returning to coaching in August of 2019 with the Tim Morehouse Fencing Club in New York City. She has spent the past two years there, coaching a wide range of skill levels, including more than 20 fencers competing in regional and national competitions.
During her collegiate fencing career at Temple, Largaespada placed in the top 20 nationally three times, in 2013-15, and in the Mid-Atlantic Region top 10 twice.
Also fluent in Spanish and conversational in Italian, Largaespada graduated from Temple in 2016 with a degree in public relations. She also earned Dean's List honors.
"Coaching at the college level means so much to me, because it's a way to give others the opportunities that were given to me," Largaespada said. "But coaching for UNC means even more – this place and its people feel like home already, and I'm excited to help develop our talented athletes into the leaders of tomorrow."
After a successful start to the 2021-22 season, the Tar Heel fencers are idle until early in 2022, when they'll resume competition at the Penn State Duals on Jan. 16.
"We are so happy to welcome Fati to our family," Jednak said. "She has such an amazing energy and passion for fencing and teaching. I am very excited for her to share her experiences with our team, and I know that she will be a valuable part of our program."
At UNC, Largaespada works with all aspects of the Tar Heel program with a focus on the foil fencers. In addition to coaching, she continues to fence competitively in sabre and represented the Nicaraguan National Fencing Team at the 2020 Olympic Trials.
Largaespada served as head coach at Wagner through the program's first two seasons, managing all aspects of the program including recruiting, equipment and facilities in addition to coaching. She began the 2016-17 school year with just two fencers on the roster, but eventually built the fledgling program to 14 fencers and saw several of her Seahawks qualify for NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals in both 2017 and 2018.
After completing her MBA from Wagner, she spent a year working in consulting before returning to coaching in August of 2019 with the Tim Morehouse Fencing Club in New York City. She has spent the past two years there, coaching a wide range of skill levels, including more than 20 fencers competing in regional and national competitions.
During her collegiate fencing career at Temple, Largaespada placed in the top 20 nationally three times, in 2013-15, and in the Mid-Atlantic Region top 10 twice.
Also fluent in Spanish and conversational in Italian, Largaespada graduated from Temple in 2016 with a degree in public relations. She also earned Dean's List honors.
"Coaching at the college level means so much to me, because it's a way to give others the opportunities that were given to me," Largaespada said. "But coaching for UNC means even more – this place and its people feel like home already, and I'm excited to help develop our talented athletes into the leaders of tomorrow."
After a successful start to the 2021-22 season, the Tar Heel fencers are idle until early in 2022, when they'll resume competition at the Penn State Duals on Jan. 16.
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