Daniel Bailey-Yavonditte was named the Head Coach of the fencing programs in September 2025.
Bailey-Yavonditte arrives at Castle Point with over two decades of coaching experience across the collegiate, high school, and club levels, including a decorated tenure as head coach at Newark Academy, where he guided the Minutemen to unprecedented success. Under his leadership, Newark captured the 2020 and 2022 NJSIAA Boys' State Championships, while Bailey-Yavonditte earned USA Fencing National High School Coach of the Year honors in 2020. He was also recognized as both the NFHS/NJISAA Girls' Coach of the Year and the NJIFA Boys' Coach of the Year during the 2019-20 season.
Â
"I am honored to join such a long standing program as Stevens fencing and look forward to where we can go with such a dedicated coaching staff and student body," Bailey-Yavonditte expressed.
Â
In addition to his time at Newark Academy, Bailey-Yavonditte served as head coach of the West Windsor-Plainsboro South varsity teams, leading the Pirates to the 2017 Cetrulo Sabre title and multiple state tournament bids. He also held head coaching roles at St. Peter's Prep and Morristown High School, capturing a District 5 Men's Fencing Title and consecutive NJISAA crowns with the Marauders.
Â
At the collegiate level, Bailey-Yavonditte has deep ties to Drew University, his alma mater. He was named interim head coach of the Rangers in 2011 after serving as an assistant coach from 2002 to 2006, and he has remained involved with the program through multiple stints as a sabre and conditioning coach at Drew's fencing camps.
Â
Bailey-Yavonditte is also a certified USA Fencing referee rated in all three weapons and brings experience in program development, scheduling, recruiting, and athlete support. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts (with a minor in Environmental Studies), a Master of Divinity, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Drew University and its Caspersen School of Graduate Studies.
