ND SPORTS
BY DOUGLAS FARMER
O
nly three previous head coaches
in Notre Dame history — in any
sport — did what fencing coach Janusz
Bednarski did before he retired Dec. 2.
In his 12 years leading the Irish, Bed-
narski won three national champion-
ships — 2003, 2005 and 2011 — to join
football's Knute Rockne (three titles)
and Frank Leahy (four) and fencing's
Michael DeCicco (four) as the only
Irish coaches to win more than two
national championships.
"I have enjoyed tremendously the
opportunity to lead Notre Dame fenc-
ing these past 12 years," Bednarski
said in a statement announcing his
resignation and the promotion of Gia
Kvaratskhelia as new Irish head coach.
"We've won championships, we've
produced All-Americans and Olympi-
ans, and we've had the chance to work
with individuals who are among the
very best in the world.
"I thank all those at the university
who have helped make this success a
reality."
Bednarski's 623 total wins (315 with
the Notre Dame women and 308 with
the men) slot him third all time in
Notre Dame coaching history, behind
Fencing Coach
Janusz Bednarski Retires
Bednarski led Notre Dame to three national titles, making him one of only four Irish coaches — in any
sport — to win more than two national championships.
PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEIDA RELATIONS
