Dayn DeRose has guided the Rangers during the most successful period in the fencing program’s history. In 2006, the men’s team won the MACFA team title for the third time in five seasons while the women’s team won its fourth straight EWFC title. DeRose and his staff won their sixth Coaching Staff of the Year honor as all 18 starters qualified for the NCAA Regional Championships.
Although the Rangers' fencing program has always been strong, DeRose has guided an unprecedented 120 fencers to the NCAA regional tournament. He was responsible for restoring the women's fencing team to varsity status in 1997 after a 13-year hiatus, and has guided the squad to tremendous improvement each year. The 2002-03 season marked Drew's entrance into the Eastern Women's Fencing Conference and the Rangers have dominated the conference ever since with four straight EWFC titles, while he has garnered the Coach of the Year honor each season as well.
His men's teams have seen unparalleled success with top three finishes at the MACFA championships each of the last six years, including the overall title in 2002, 2003 and 2006. He has coached the Rangers to eight weapon titles in the last six seasons as well. The 1999-00 MACFA Coach of the Year has increased the quality of competition that Drew faces as the Rangers now compete against the elite programs in the nation.
DeRose is a graduate of Clark University and earned a master's degree in counseling psychology from Seton Hall University in 1986. He coached fencing at Millburn High School from 1985-91 and has coached the 1989 State Champion Epee team, the 1989 Junior Olympic Epee Champion, and two 1990 National Junior Olympic Sabre finalists. DeRose also has coached Tamir Bloom, the U.S. National, Pan Am, and World Epee medalist.
DeRose is a two-time silver medalist in the USSA National and Pan-American sambo wrestling tournaments and currently on the USASU national coaching staff. He served as head coach for two world hard contact karate teams, including the World Koshiki Karate Championships in Tokyo (1994) and Sydney (1997). He is a member of both the U.S. Fencing Association and the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association (Moniteur D'Escrime) in foil, epee, and sabre. DeRose is also an East Coast representative of Jujitsu America. DeRose is a past director of development for New Jersey Judo Inc. and recently received his level "D" coaching certification from USAJudo. DeRose also owns South Mountain Martial Arts, where he teaches judo, sambo, jujitsu, and of course, fencing.
