OUR COACHES
GENE GETTLER
Gene earned his certification as a Fencing Master in 1977 from the American Fencing Academy at Cornell University, and founded the Atlanta Fencers' Club that same year. Many of his students have become regional and national finalists and champions, including one pupil who made two US Olympic Teams. Also an accomplished fencer, Gene was a bronze medalist in foil in the 1998 Div. II Nationals, has been US Masters Champion twice, Southeast Section Foil Champion twice, and twice has been the Southeast Section Epee Champion. Gene is also a faculty member teaching fencing at Emory University and Head Coach of the Centennial High School Fencing Team. Gene is also dedicated to the training and certification of Fencing Coaches. Gene is former SE Vice-President for the United States Fencing Coaches Association. Wishing to help the growth of Fencing in Georgia, Gene has served as an officer of the Georgia Division of USA Fencing for over 30 years.
BILL LANIER
Foil Coach
Bill Lanier is an assistant coach at the Atlanta Fencer's Club and a professional fencing referee for USA Fencing. He has been fencing for 18 years, having begun at age 50 for his health (lost 40 pounds!), and staying with it for fun.
LAURA GETTLER
Coach
Instructor in Foil, Laura has been fencing for 35 years. Among her competitive accomplishments, Laura is a past Southeast Section Champion, and several times National Finalist in Veteran’s Foil. Laura assists with the Beginners Youth and Adult classes, and is particularly liked for her patience and sensitivity. Gene and Laura have been married for 35 years.
BILL MURPHY
Coach
Coach Bill Murphy began his fencing career at Georgia State University in 1982. In 1994 he received his Basic Foil Instructor certificate from Mt. Alex Beguinet at the U. S. Fencing Association Coaches College. In 1999 he received Moniteur D’ Escrime (Foil, Epee, Sabre) from the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association and in 2003 he received his Prevot d’ Armes from USFCA (Foil, Epee, Sabre). He is currently Prévot d’Armes certified, a Master Level designation.
As an Armourer, Bill served as the Sports Equipment Manager for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games fencing competition management team. At the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games he served as a weapon control coordinator for the fencing competition management team. Bill served as the Team Armourer for the 2004 (Athens) and 2008 (Beijing) U. S. Paralympic Fencing Teams. In 1994, at the request of the Atlanta Paralympic Organizing Committee, Bill started the first wheelchair fencing program in America at Atlanta’s Shepherd Center. He has attended numerous regional, national and international fencing tournaments in a technical role.
Bill is passionate about the sport of fencing and in his retirement he enjoys giving private fencing lessons and sharing his knowledge of the sport with members of the Atlanta International Fencing Foundation
DONOVAN MUNLIN
Coach
Coach Donovan has 10 years of competitive fencing experience. He began fencing in 2011 during his freshman year in high school. During his senior year, attending 8 of the 9 tournaments, he never finished lower than 6th and earned medals at 4 of the tournaments. (Gold, 2 Silvers and a Bronze). He has earned numerous medals on the local and regional scene. He is the 2019 Men’s Epee Georgia Division Champion. On the National scene he has earned a Bronze medal at the 2017 December North America Cup DIV I Classification event and a Silver Patch for the 2018-2019 season DIV IA Regional Points for Men’s Epee. He also took 5 th place at the 2021 June North America Cup DIV 1 event. Even though Donovan continues to be a full time competitive fencer, his love and passion for fencing has also segued into coaching. He was the coach for Cambridge High school for three years and is the current coach for Campbell high school as well as Riverwood International Charter School.
BLAKE WOOLEY
Coach
Blake Woolley has been fencing for 20 years and competes in Foil and Epee.. He has over 10 years of experience teaching and coaching Foil for both youth and adult fencing programs.