Vassar College Athletics

Bruce Gillman, a noted collegiate fencer, coach, instructor and referee, was named head coach of the men's and women's fencing teams at Vassar College in 2005. Now in his 12th season in 2016-17, Gillman has led the men's fencing team to ten double-digit win seasons, along with eight winning campaigns.

The 2015-16 campaign was a solid one for the Brewers, as VC improved its win total to 25 from 20 the previous season. The Brewers sent 10 members of their squad to the Northeast Regional, with Sophomores George Whiteside and Eli Polston as well as Senior Elam Coalson all making their way into the semifinal round of competition. Polston was also Fencer of the Year with the best record in the Northeast Fencing Conference. The team finished third in the Conference behind Brandeis and Brown. The Vassar Mens Epee Squad also captured a share of the coveted Vitale Cup at the NEIFC Championships white leading the team to its first ever NEIFC 3-weapon mens title.
 
In 2014-15, freshman Eli Polston lead the sabre squad to a third place finish at the NEIFC Championships on his way to becoming Individual sabre champion.
 
The 2013-14 campaign was a solid one for the Brewers, as VC improved its win total to 21 from 14 the previous season. The Brewers sent 10 members of their squad to the Northeast Regional, with freshman Ry Farley masking his way into the third round of competition. Senior captain Matt Steinschneider was named as a All-Northeast Fencing Conference Third Team honoree. 

During the 2012-13 season, Gillman saw the squad pick up 14 wins, as the Brewers sent six men's fencers to the Northeast Regional. The previous year in 11-12, VC won the third-most matches in program history, picking up 16 victories.
 
In 2011-12 - Epee fencer Nick Johnson Finished 13th in epee at NCAA Championships at Ohio State.

In 2010-11, Gillman helped two fencers qualify for the NCAA Fencing Championships, including Andrew Fischl, who became the program's first fencer to qualify four straight years. Gillman coached the team to a program best second place finish in the Northeast Fencing Conference.

Gillman, who has more than three decades experience in coaching fencers of all ages and weapons began his fencing career as a member of the University of Rochester team. He has been an assistant coach at Sacred Heart (CT) University, owner and chief instructor at the Fencing Center of Long Island and a longtime Referee Examiner for the USFA Fencing Officials Commission. He is a member of the United States Fencing Coaches Association and a Prevot in all three weapons.

Gillman is a founding director of the Candlewood Fencing Center in Danbury, CT. A 1982 graduate of the University of Rochester, Gillman attended graduate school at The Ohio State University where he worked with the fencing team as a Graduate Administrative Assistant.  Gillman became active in officiating with the ECAC and opened the Fencing Center of Long Island, which was in operation from 1998 to 2007. Gillman became an assistant coach at Sacred Heart in 1999 and three years later became the Boys Fencing Coach at Garden City (NY) High School.

A top official on the national, collegiate, and scholastic levels, who has worked NCAA and ECAC Championships, Gillman is a member of the United States Fencing Association and the United States Fencing Coaches Association.