COACH OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP: A Brand Name for Success

Support and friendship might not exactly be something that you look for from your varsity coach, but that’s exactly what the fencing team has in its leader, Peter Brand.

When the Israeli native came to Harvard in 1999, the squad was in disarray.

Now, eight years later, high schoolers want to join the Crimson to have the chance to be his fencer.

Brand boasts a national championship team, and numerous individual champions have emerged from under his tutelage.

This year, Brand continued to add to his coaching resume.

The fencing team took a number of hits throughout the season. From men’s co-captain Sam Cross leaving to battle leukemia, to Cross’ sister Emily leaving to train for the Olympics, the cards were stacked against Brand.

Still, his team finished sixth in the country, and the men’s side also saw senior captain Tim Hagamen win an individual title in the men’s saber.

It’s Brand’s style of coaching that motivates everyone to perform at the highest level.

He combines strict practices with understanding—including pushing all of his athletes to fence in competition beyond Harvard.

“He’s been incredible in this whole process,” Emily Cross said of her choice to train for Olympic competition. “Most coaches wouldn’t be as understanding as he’s been. It’s hard for him to let me go—I’m sure he’d prefer me to stay—but he’s been my biggest supporter at Harvard.”

—Staff writer Madeleine I. Shapiro can be reached at mshapiro@fas.harvard.edu.