Samir Ibrahimov 2015-16 Fencing Staff

Samir Ibrahimov is the latest coaching hire within the University of Notre Dame fencing program. Ibrahimov will coach the men’s and women’s sabre squads for the Irish, and brings a wealth of international experience and a pedigree of success to South Bend. Says Irish head coach Gia Kvaratskhelia, “With Samir’s hiring, we have retained one of the best sabre coaches within the world for our staff. His experience both as a world champion athlete and as a coach who has developed world champions brings immeasurable value to our program here at Notre Dame.”

Ibrahimov joins the Irish after spending three years as the head coach of Hong Kong’s national team, where he brought home four Asian Championships both in team and individual events. He coach the nation’s first ever World Champion at the Cadet and Junior World Championships in Porec, Croatia, and from 2011-14, his pupils earned numerous medals at the Asian Championships – making well-renowned within the international fencing circuit.

Prior to his time in Hong Kong, Ibrahimov served as the head sabre coach with the Azerbaijan national fencing team from 1995 to 2011. In this role, he designed and implemented a new training regimen for the national team, resulting in several national champions and Satellite World Cup finalists.

Ibrahimov also spent time with the Dynamo fencing club from 2008-09 as head sabre coach, revamping the club’s existing training process. Within his first year with the program, Dynamo had won a National Championship, paving the way for future successes.

During his competitive years, Ibrahimov won a gold medal at the World Championships in Lyon, France in 1990, and was a silver medalist at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in 1991. He is a five-time Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) National Champion (1980, 1984, 1988, 1990 and 1991) and was a member of the USSR National fencing team.

Ibrahimov has been honored as a master of his sport within the USSR, and was awarded the Special Achievements Award by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Aliyev also honored Ibrahimov for his contribution to the development of fencing within his homeland.

Ibrahimov achieved his Bachelor of Science in Education from the Azerbaijan State Institute of Physical Education, USSR, and went on to attain his Masters of Sport in Fencing. He is fluent in Russian and Azerbaijani and is proficient in English. He currently resides in South Bend.