FIT Coaches

Coach Hoss grew up in Alexandria, Egypt.  He began fencing at the early age of 9.  Coach Hoss was on the Egyptian National epee team for several years.  Although he never fenced in the Olympics, he was selected to the team multiple years. He fenced in many championships throughout Europe, especially in Hungary, Italy and Germany.  Coach Hoss came to the US around 1995 and began working with his close friend at Lone Star Fencing Center where he produced many junior and cadet National epee medalists . When his friend left Lone Star to become head coach at the Air Force Academy, Coach Hoss started Fencing Institute of Texas with a Board of Directors where he has continued his success producing quality fencers. Coach Hoss has a BA in Accounting from the University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt. He is the Head Fencing Coach at St. Mark's School of Dallas.

Coach Volodymyr grew up in Lviv, Ukraine and attended the Fencing Youth Sports School of Troyanda. He received a Master of Sport of the Soviet Union with Fencing emphasis in 1987.  He worked for the Youth Sports School of Troyanda as a Youth Fencing Coach before coming to the US in 2000 to work at FIT.  His students have represented the United States at 14 World Championships in Cadet, Junior and Veteran.  Coach Volodymyr has produced two Olympians, Mona and Zain Shaito; Mona participated in two Olympics for Lebanon. Coach Volodymyr consistently has athletes fencing internationally on the US Junior and Cadet teams, and numerous medalists at National and Regional tournaments.

Coach D'Asaro has fencing in his blood.  His father was USA Fencing Hall of Fame inductee, Maestro Michael D'Asaro; his mother was also a fencer. Coach D'Asaro lives and breathes sabre. Coach Mike was on the San Jose State University fencing team.  He was on the USA Pan American Team, and an alternate to the USA Olympic Team.
Coach D'Asaro has produced many National Champions and medalists in various age groups and is considered one of the premier sabre coaches in the US today.  He met his wife, Sandra, when she was fencing in the Duel in the Dessert and he was refereeing. We expect his children to be fencers when they get old enough.

Coach Carr teaches our Adult Fitness Fencing class and our Victorian Fencing. He has a degree in Library Science and also works at the Dallas Library. 

The Victorian fencers perform demonstrations throughout Texas of various rapier, dagger, and short sword techniques. The group meets Wednesdays from 8-9 PM and once a month on Sunday afternoon.

Coach Jeff taught all three weapons at his own club for over 25 years. His paralympian fencer won numerous National medals in foil, epee and sabre, and competed in International competitions. Jeff himself recently became an amputee.  You do not have to be wheelchair bound to compete as a parafencer. All parafencers must compete in at least two weapons.

 Coach Rhonda has been with FIT as a competitive fencer and coach since 2004.  She has pedagogy under Olympian Florin Paunescu of Romania. She has also studied with top US sabre coaches including Arkady Burdan.
Rhonda started her coaching career as a student at University of North Texas. She taught the Wellness class at Southern Methodist University for several years.
Coach Rhonda teaches our Strength and Conditioning class in addition to the Sabre Team.

Coach Nelly began her fencing career in Bulgaria at a young age. She has been a coach at FIT  and other area clubs for several years. Coach Nelly taught fencing for many years at St. Mark's School of Dallas.
Coach Nelly is a highly respected USA Fencing referee and is currently pursuing refereeing at the International level.

Coach Kyle assists Coach Mike and Coach Rhonda with the sabre program. Coach Kyle has fenced at the national level since his youth. He has taught fencing at several clubs in the country.

In addition to being a certified USFCA fencing coach, Coach Sam is a certified K-6 teacher, and has close to two decades of teaching experience ranging from pre-K through college level. She is an adjunct professor at Dallas College Richland Campus where she has been recognized with an Excellence in Teaching Award, and has been awarded with both national and international teaching awards for her dedication to innovative instruction. Coach Sam also has several years experience as an  instructional specialist at Dallas College North Lake Campus. Coach Sam came from Canada with her husband. She was a 5-year Varsity University foil and epee finalist, and fenced on the national circuit for several years, refereed foil and epee, assisted with coaching as the Women's foil team captain at Brock University where she was on the Varsity Athletics Dean's list, and was twice awarded the Varsity Women's Foilist of the Year Douglas Trophy. Coach Sam enjoys bringing her love of fencing and love of teaching together to assist with building a solid foundation in the next generation of young FIT fencers. 

Coach Ammar and his wife, Coach Sam, came to us from Canada.  He is a USA Fencing Coaches Association Assistant Moniteur.  Coach Ammar is also an IT brain!