STATE COLLEGE, Pa., January 28, 2003 - David Ling has returned to the Penn State fencing program as a replacement for second year coaching assistant Jason Krasowitz, who has accepted a job unrelated to fencing. Ling last served as a coaching assistant for the Nittany Lions from 1992-1994, during which time he also completed a formal two-year program of study of fencing training methods and techniques under Penn State head coach Emmanuil Kaidanov.
Ling was a varsity letter-winner at Duke University, where he competed in the men¨ªs saber while pursuing his Bachelor¨ªs Degree in chemistry in the early 1970s. Following graduation, David served for 20 years as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Marine Corps. He earned an MBA from the University of Nebraska in 1991 and went on to work in the private business sector until July of last year.
David brings extensive competitive experience and coaching knowledge to the Penn State program. He has studied under four prominent fencing Maestros from around the world, including Kaidanov. Through his five years of enrollment in the U.S. Fencing Association National Coaches¨ª College, he has been certified to coach all three fencing weapons. He has also received coaching certification from the Academie d¨ªArmes Internationale and the American Coaching Effectiveness Program. In addition to his two years as an assistant at Penn State, Ling has served as a fencing club instructor in various cities since 1984. During his competitive career, Ling was selected to the U.S. National Olympic Squad, and his last ranking on the North American Circuit was 20th in 1986.
The Penn State men¨ªs and women¨ªs fencing teams are currently ranked No. 1 in their respective polls while sporting identical 7-0 records. They will travel to Notre Dame this Saturday to face the No. 2/2 Fighting Irish, No. 4/4 Ohio State, Air Force, Wayne State, CSU-Fullerton, and the No. 7 women¨ªs squad from Northwestern. The full day of dual meets is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
