Brian Kaneshige joined New York University as a men’s and women’s assistant fencing coach in October 2022.
Brian Kaneshige joined New York University as a men’s and women’s assistant fencing coach in October 2022.
In 2024-25, both the men’s (20-11) and women’s (21-12) teams produced 20-win seasons (the most wins in women’s team history), and the teams combined for a 21st-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Two fencers, Maria Stamos and Anup Banerjee, represented NYU at the NCAA’s.
The men’s campaign included victories over NCAA Division I squads from Penn State University, the University of North Carolina, and Duke University, while the women recorded wins against DI teams North Carolina, the University of Notre Dame, Boston University, and Lafayette College.
Both squads were well-represented in postseason awards from the United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA), with Banerjee being selected National Foil Newcomer of the Year. He also received similar “Newcomer of the Year” accolades on the Division III level, as did teammates Ajit Sivakumar (epee) and Ansh Ghayalod (sabre). On the women’s side, Stamos was chosen DIII Foil Athlete of the Year and Katherine Chen received similar accolades in epee.
In 2023-24, Kaneshige helped lead the men’s team to a 20-10 record as the Violets were selected USFCA Division III Men’s Team of the Year. Four men’s fencers qualified for the NCAA Championships as the Violets placed 14th in the combined men’s/women’s event, the best finish of any Division III team.
The women’s team posted a 14-20 record.
Many NYU fencers racked up awards from the USFCA after their strong seasons, as the men totaled 10 All-Region and five All-America honors while Adam Wong was chosen Division III Foil Newcomer of the Year. The women’s team collected five All-Region and three All-America accolades.
In his first season, Kaneshige helped guide the Violets to a 17th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. The men’s team posted a 14-13 match record while the women went 9-19. Both squads were cited as the USFCA Division III Teams of the Year.
Several fencers put together outstanding campaigns in 2022-23. On the men’s side, Ian Adler was named USFCA Division III Epee Athlete of the Year and First Team Division III All-American. Farr Dickson also received both honors in foil, while also adding USFCA Division III Foil Newcomer of the Year accolades. Brian Kim (saber) was also a first Team Division III All-American, while Andrew Sledeski (foil) and Darren Yen (saber) earned Second Team honors.
On the women’s side, Polly Adler (foil), Anna Lanzman (epee) and Maria Stamos (foil) each received USFCA First Team Division III All-America honors while Stamos was also named Division III Foil Athlete of the Year. Sophia Dondisch (epee) was a Second Team All-American and Leeanne Chan received Honorable Mention.
Also currently developing athletes as a coach with the New Jersey Fencing Alliance, Kaneshige is the personal coach for a number of elite women's foil fencers, including Jackie Dubrovich, member of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team.
Kaneshige served directly under the late Buckie Leach in assisting Team USA foil in their preparation for the Olympics in 2021, and he currently supports the U.S. National Coaching Staff.
A 2015 graduate of Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in East Asian Studies, Kaneshige was a four-year member of the Crimsons' fencing team. A four-time All-American, two-time First Team All-Ivy League honoree and a member of three Ivy League Championship teams, Kaneshige served as a co-captain.
Also a competitor for Team USA Fencing, Kaneshige is a two-time medalist in Senior Men's Foil. Ranking as high as #5 in the USA Senior Men's Foil Rankings, he was the 2011 Junior Team World Champion and 2013 Junior Team Silver Medalist.
Kaneshige is a native and resident of Maplewood, NJ.
