Matt Jednak

Biography

Two-time ACC Coach of the Year Matt Jednak completed his seventh season as head coach in 2026. The 2025-26 season was one of the best seasons in program history. Carolina has had three top ten finishes at the NCAA Championships and two have come under Jednak. The men’s team finished seventh at the first ever men’s national championship highlighted by the first national championship by a fencer in 43 years. The men’s team had even more individual success. Elden Wood, who was the first men’s sabre fencer to earn back-to-back All-American honors in 32 years and only the fourth fencer to achieve the feat in program history. Youseff Shamel was the first men’s epee All-American in 26 years, and the first epee fencer to earn first-team honors. Peter Bruk was the fourth men’s foil fencer to earn back-to-back All-American honors. The team brought home the first ever national awards for individual athletes as Youseff Shamel won USFCA Men’s Epee Newcomer and Epee Fencer of the Year. Dagny Johnson won USFCA Women’s Saber Newcomer of the Year. 2025-26 season by the numbers: - For the first time since 1976, men’s fencing won two individual men’s titles at ACCs. - Peter Bruk (Foil) and Youseff Shamel (Epee) won their first conference titles - Youseff Shamel won the first ever regional championship -Shamel was also the first Carolina fencer to win an ACC Championship and national championship - Peter Bruk tied the best finish by a Carolina foil fencer in NCAA Championships history with his t