Roger Cummings Retires From FDU Women's Fencing Post
7/17/2012
Hackensack, NJ -- Fairleigh Dickinson University Director of Athletics David Langford announced the retirement of women’s fencing coach Roger Cummings on Tuesday. Cummings, who has been involved with fencing for 50 years, retires after leading the Knights over the past 11 seasons.
“We really appreciate Roger’s contributions to the fencing program and the development of the student-athletes,” Langford said. “As he begins a new chapter in his life, we wish him the very best in retirement.”
Throughout his time at FDU, Cummings guided the Knights to numerous individual and team titles. His squad took third at the NIWFA Annual Championships in 2001-02, his first season with the Burgundy and Blue. During Cummings’ 11 seasons, the Knights finished in the top four twice and took home fifth in 2006 and 2012.
On an individual level, Cummings coached Cathleen Ferris, who finished with the second most career victories in program history with 248 and set an FDU single-season record with 81 wins during the 2001-02 campaign.
Under the tutelage of Cummings, Courtney Brennan was crowned an individual champion at the NIWFA Christmas Invitational Championship in 2002 and 2003. Erica Galarza also picked up back-to-back titles at the same event in 2006 and 2007.
Also during his coaching career, Cummings led the Ramapo High School girls’ fencing team to 10 state titles during his 20-year run in charge of the program. He has coached numerous athletes at international competitions including the Senior World Sabre finalist in 1999 and 2000. Cummings was also chosen to lead the Women’s Pan-American Junior Epee Champion.
Cummings was an accomplished fencer, earning a place in the Junior Olympics in 1964 and was a member of the Junior World Team in 1965. In 1984, he was a finalist for the Olympics and a year later was the U.S. Fencing Association National Epee Team Champion.
He earned the 1995 NJSIAA Coach of the Year Award and was named Coach of the Century (1900-2000), Coach of the Decade (1990s) and Fencer of the Decade (1960s) by the Star Ledger.