In 2014, former Penn State fencing coach Emmanuil G. Kaidanov filed a civil action against The Pennsylvania State University. Claims against Penn State employees Julie Del Giorno and David Joyner were dismissed in December 2014. Claims for wrongful termination, defamation, tortious interference with contractual relations, and a procedural due process claim related to an alleged liberty interest in reputation against Penn State were also dismissed. Claims made by Coach Kaidanov against Penn State for breach of contract, for violation of Coach Kaidanov’s pre termination procedural due process rights, and for Coach Kaidanov’s post termination procedural due process rights were not dismissed.

Penn State and Coach Kaidanov are pleased to announce that the parties have amicably resolved their differences and the civil action by agreement has been dismissed.

As head coach over a period of 31 years, Coach Kaidanov led the men’s and women’s Penn State fencing teams to 12 National Championships, 9 second-place finishes and 25 top three finishes.  Coach Kaidanov was honored 4 times as the NCAA Coach of the Year, and his student-athletes have won 28 individual national titles.  Coach Kaidanov produced 188 All-American fencers, 10 Olympians and the first and only United States World Champion.  Coach Kaidanov coached the United States fencing team at the World Championships, the World University Games, the Pan American Junior Championships and the World Under-Twenty Championships.  In addition. Coach Kaidanov has served as the United States Fencing Association’s National Training Director.

Penn State appreciates Coach Kaidanov’s future support of both the Penn State Men’s and Women’s fencing programs.