Hargrave Military Academy is proud to announce the appointment of Marek Piotr Stepien OLY as our new Head Fencing Coach. This appointment represents a significant investment in our athletic offerings and our commitment to providing students with exceptional opportunities for competitive excellence and personal development.
Stepien is an Olympic competitor and recipient of the World Olympians Association Certificate of Recognition, which grants him the post-nominal title OLY for his continued promotion of Olympic values in society. He is a graduate of the USA Fencing Leadership Academy and holds an MBA, as well as an MA in Physical Education and Fencing Coaching credentials from the Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw.
He brings over 30 years of coaching experience at the highest levels of international competition. He has led programs at the University of Cambridge and the University of Notre Dame’s Division I team and worked internationally as an FIE expert and IOC Olympic Solidarity educator, delivering coach development programs across three continents.
His student-athletes have consistently earned admission to prestigious universities, including Harvard, Columbia, and Notre Dame—a testament to his holistic approach that develops both competitive skill and academic excellence. Many of his athletes have stood on Olympic podiums, including Stephanie Cook (Gold, Sydney 2000) and Kate Allenby (Bronze, Sydney 2000), and have captured NCAA championships.
Stepien’s appointment, effective December 1st, coincides with the construction of a state-of-the-art training center that positions our academy as a premier destination for this growing sport. This donor-funded strategic investment reflects our commitment to elite athletic programs that drive enrollment and distinguish Hargrave in the broader boarding school landscape.
Under Stepien’s leadership, our fencing program will provide students with access to world-class instruction, competitive opportunities at the national level, and clear pathways to collegiate athletics. We are excited about the opportunities this program will create for our students and our community.
Please join us in welcoming Marek Stepien to the Hargrave family!
