Steve Mormando of NYU Heading to USA Fencing Hall of Fame

Steve Mormando of NYU Heading to USA Fencing Hall of Fame

From NYU Athletics

Steve Mormando, a member of New York University's fencing coaching staff since 1981-82, has been selected for induction into USA Fencing's Hall of Fame.

USA Fencing Hall of Fame Release

Mormando has served as both assistant and head coach of the women's and men's fencing squads during his tenure at NYU (see chart below).      

"I am extremely honored and humbled that the membership of USA Fencing both nominated and elected me to the Hall of Fame," Mormando said. "I truly never expected to be old enough to qualify!  I also thank my colleagues at NYU, my family, and most of all my wife who has put up with me all these years. It is also an honor to go in with one of my students, Justin Tausig, and join two more of my former NYU students, Peter Westbrook and Michael Lofton in the Hall."

Overall, Mormando's men's and women's squads have combined for 647 total victories. He has led the Violets to 12 top-10 national finishes, as well as 15 men's UAA (University Athletic Association) Championships (1988, 1990-2003) and 10 UAA women's titles (1989-92, 1996-2000, 2003). 
 
During his lengthy service on the Violets' strip, Mormando has produced six NCAA champions, 44 All-Americans (six Academic), 45 UAA titlists, six Intercollegiate Fencing Association (IFA) champions, and 15 NCAA Regional first-place finishers. In addition, Mormando and his assistants combined to earn UAA Coaching Staff of the Year honors on 11 occasions.

The Violets have finished as high as seventh nationally (1993-94) during Mormando's tenure with the program.

Mormando qualified as the 1992 United States Olympic Team's top saber fencer and was elected co-captain of the U.S. Fencing contingent. The Barcelona games marked his third consecutive Olympic selection. He earned the trip to Barcelona largely as a result of the gold medal he won in the individual sabre competition at the 1991 Pan American Games. In addition to his Pan American gold, Mormando captured the 1987 U.S. National Sabre Championship and has earned 17 U.S. Olympic Festival Championship medals.
 
In 2005, Mormando won the bronze medal at the Veterans Over-50 World Championships in Tampa, FL. He won the gold medal at the 1998 Nike World Masters' Games in Portland, OR, defeating 1980 Olympic gold medalist Nikolai Alekhine of Belarus 15-12 to win the championship.
 
Mormando's competitive career includes 13 United States National Team gold medals to go along with his one gold and four silver medals from the Pan American Games. He made the Olympic Team finals in 1984, finishing sixth, and in 1988, finishing seventh. Mormando placed 12th in the individual sabre in 1984 and 16th in 1988. Over the course of U.S. national competitions, he has accumulated a total of 34 medals, including the silver he won in the team competition at the 2003 U.S. Nationals.

A 1980 graduate of Rutgers University with Bachelor of Arts degrees in philosophy and English literature, Mormando earned his Master of Arts degree in sports and fitness management from NYU's School of Education in 1983. He has also been inducted into the Toms River High School, Rutgers University and New Jersey Shore Halls of Fame.