Air Force Names New Head Coach: 35-Year-Old Appointment Announced by Director Troy Calhoun
“We are excited to welcome Coach Katarzyna Dabrowa to the Air Force Academy family,” Pine said. “She brings extensive experience at both the international and NCAA championship levels as both an athlete and coach. I am confident that she will continue to elevate our fencing program and lead our cadet-athletes with exemplary character.”
“I am grateful to Mr. Nathan Pine and Mr. Shondell Reed for this incredible opportunity to lead the fencing program at the Air Force Academy,” Dabrowa said. “It is a great honor and privilege to take on this role in developing our nation’s future leaders. I look forward to collaborating with the exceptional men and women of USAFA and aiming to elevate the team’s profile nationally.”
Dabrowa joins the Academy from Ohio State, where she served as an assistant coach starting in 2018, later becoming associate head coach in October 2021. Notably, she was the youngest female assistant coach in NCAA Division I fencing at the time of her hiring. As a former competitor for the Buckeyes from 2011 to 2013, she co-captained the 2012 NCAA championship team and was the first Buckeye to win an NCAA title in women’s epee.
Under Dabrowa’s guidance, Ohio State’s epee squad achieved significant success, including coaching Oliver Shindler to an NCAA title in 2019 and Gabriel Feinberg to the national championship in 2022, while Paul Veltrup was the 2023 runner-up. Her tenure also saw the Buckeyes claim multiple conference championships and achieve strong NCAA finishes.
In addition to her coaching achievements, Dabrowa earned several accolades during her time as a student-athlete at Ohio State, including the 2012 NCAA women’s epee championship and three-time first-team All-American honors.
Beyond her collegiate roles, Dabrowa has international experience with the Polish Senior and Junior National Teams and has garnered numerous medals at European and World Championships.
Dabrowa holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology (2013) and a master’s degree in sports management (2015) from Ohio State. Her career includes prior roles in collegiate athletics administration and coaching.
She is married to Silki Cho, an Army West Point graduate and Army veteran, and they have two children, Maximilian and Maya.
