CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Matt Jednak, a former Tar Heel fencer and assistant coach, has been named head coach of the North Carolina men’s and women’s fencing teams, UNC Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham announced Thursday. Jednak is just the second coach in Tar Heel program history, following Ron Miller, who came to UNC in 1967 and has been at the UNC helm for 52 years.
“I am honored to lead a program that means so much to me,” said Jednak, who was introduced as the program’s new coach at a team meeting on Thursday afternoon. “I have so much respect for Coach Miller – he’s an icon in the world of fencing – and I look forward to carrying on the proud tradition that he created and fostered at UNC. Carolina Fencing has come to mean success in the classroom, on the strip and in life. I experienced that as a student-athlete and as an assistant coach, and I will work hard to carry that forward for current and future Tar Heels.”
A three-year letterwinner as part of the men’s epee squad, Jednak completed his North Carolina degree in 2009, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in mathematical decision sciences. He served as a Carolina assistant coach from 2009-14 and then founded and currently manages his own accounting and tax firm while coaching fencing on the club level.
“Matt’s knowledge, experience as a Carolina student-athlete and assistant coach and dedication to providing a great experience for our students make him the ideal person to lead this program,’’ Cunningham said. “Carolina Fencing is unique because we’ve had one extremely successful head coach in its 52-year history – and we need a leader who will embrace the tradition of the program while also finding new ways to move it forward. We are confident Matt is that person, and we are pleased to have him join our phenomenal group of Carolina head coaches.”
“Even as a student in our program, Matt embraced the teaching aspect of the team and was always looking for ways to help his teammates improve,” Miller said. “He has exceptional interpersonal skills, both communicating one-on-one and running a group, and I think the combination of that and his teaching skills make him a great fit for this position. He has experience across all three weapons, which is fairly rare. He’s prepared and I think he’ll jump right in and move the program forward.
Miller coached the Tar Heels for 52 seasons and compiled a career record of 1,603-900. He initially retired last spring, but stayed on for the 2018-19 season as UNC completed the search and hired a new coach.
“Although I was ready to retire last year, this year allowed different opportunities,” Miller said. “We had a large group of incoming freshmen, so to help them adapt to college life and the team program was gratifying, and I also appreciated being able to finish up with this year’s seniors.
“One of the main focuses throughout the season was to prepare the program for my successor. I’m so appreciative of the many qualified candidates who took the time to apply for the position, and we’re all very pleased that Matt was selected – I hope it will be an easy transition for him.”
Jednak has coached locally as part of the North Carolina Fencing Development Program and with Apex Fencing Academy, where he has worked with several national medal winners.
As a Tar Heel assistant coach he was involved in all aspects of the program, coaching numerous NCAA Championships qualifiers while developing a broad base of experience and a strong coaching philosophy.
“My coaching philosophy develops student-athletes and staff into confident leaders and forges strong bonds with parents and alumni, while my passion and emotional energy create an environment that cultivates the highest levels of success,” Jednak said. “This is an unbelievable opportunity for me, and I can’t wait to get started.”