After 31 years at the helm of the PSU Fencing Team (mens and womens), today rumors started swirling that Penn State coach Emmanuil Kaidanov has been fired from that position. There has been surprisingly little speculation as to why he might have been let go, but, despite his age (he is in his 70s), this reportedly was not a voluntary retirement.
There has been no official word from the University, but word has spread amongst fencing forums that the announcement will be made later today. There has been speculation that either the program would promote from within, or there would be no official head coach for the 2013-14 season--instead relying on the current staff to share head coaching duties.
In his years in Happy Valley, Kaidanov led his teams to twelve NCAA championships, including back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010, making him arguably the most successful coach in University Park.
We'll keep you updated with news as we hear it.
Update: Kaidanov has already been removed from the Penn State Athletics directory--h/t to Onward State for the catch.
Update #2: The University has issued a brief statement: "This is a confidential personnel matter and we therefore are not at liberty to discuss it. He no longer is a University employee."
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