Auriol to call it a career at 2002 season's end
By MIKE CONNOLLY
Sports Writer
When Irish head coach Yves Auriol called a team meeting at one of the first practices of the year, he made an announcement that would define the entire season to come. After 17 years at Notre Dame, Auriol said that 2002 would be his last season as head coach.
The announcement wasn't especially shocking. Auriol had told then-head coach Mike De Cicco that he wanted to retire at 65 when he was hired in 1985. Auriol will turn 65 in August. Even so, 2002 suddenly had a whole new meeting for many Irish fencers.
"I really want Coach Auriol to go out on a high," sabre captain Andre Crompton said. "He has won national championships before but I really think it would be nice if he went out on top."
Auriol, however, dismisses any talk of his fencers dedicating this season to him. Even though this season is his last, he isn't approaching it any differently than his previous 16. He certainly wants to win the championship in his last season — but for Auriol that goal is the same every year.
"I would be nice to go out with a national championship but I don't want them to feel like they have to win it for me," he said. "I know that is what they are thinking."
Auriol has consistently kept his teams at the top of the collegiate fencing world. Since he started coaching the women in 1986, his teams have never finished lower than sixth and finished first in 1987 and 1994. As the head coach of the combined teams since 1996, Notre Dame has finished second five times and third once. His 2001 squad could be the best yet but Auriol is bowing out because he sees a decline in talent in the future.
"It doesn't have anything to do with the strength of the team," he said. "There may be better teams in the future than we have right now."
Auriol said that 2002 was just the right time to leave. His son Stephane, who fenced foil for the Irish for four years, graduated in 1999. He prefers warmer weather. For 17 years he has dedicated his life to Notre Dame fencing, now it was time to dedicate more time to his wife.
"He indicated he wanted to move on to the next phase in his life," assistant athletic director Bernard Muir said about Auriol's decision to retire. "He has provided us great service during his time here. We completely understood his position."
Auriol's commitment to fencing made him a great coach, according to De Cicco. Every day, Auriol gave 100 percent of his attention to his athletes.
"When you hire a fencing master particularly of the European school, they are totally committed to the sport," said De Cicco, who chose Auriol to replace him as men's coach when De Cicco retired in 1995. "They get up in the morning, put on their warm-ups and start giving fencing lessons, all day long. Then they go home, take their warm-ups off, shower, go to bed and come back the next day and do it all again. He's done that the whole 17 years he has been here. He is a tireless worker."
Auriol's work ethic and time management skills are his greatest attributes, according to women's epeeist Kerry Walton.
"He manages the time so that he can fit in a maximum amount of private lessons," the sophomore said. "Not everyone gets to work with him and I think everyone wishes they could but he does get in as many people as possible."
Auriol is also able to adjust his lessons and drills to fit with each fencer's individual styles. Each Irish fencer was taught by a different club coach and employ unique styles. Auriol is able to adapt his lessons for each individual need.
"If you change coaches, you can really screw a fencer up," Walton said. "Their styles are so completely different. He doesn't try to completely change you which could screw you up in the long run."
Auriol's success with private lessons stems from his love of teaching. In addition to his duties as head fencing coach, Auriol also teaches freshman physical education classes in fencing and rugby. He was a professional rugby player in France before he started coaching fencing.
"My job will always be teaching. I always loved being at Notre Dame because I could concentrate on teaching," said Auriol, who moved to the U.S. in 1972 to open a fencing academy in Portland, Ore.
But coupled with his love teaching is an intense desire to be the best. He served as an Olympic coach for the United States in 1980, '84, '88 and '92. He also coached the U.S. junior world championship team from 1976-79. At the same time he was an Olympic coach, he also coached the women's team at Portland State.
Soon, however, he wanted more stable employment than the Olympic team could provide.
He didn't, however, want to stop coaching top athletes. Portland State offered a steady job, but not great athletes.
"It's pretty frustrating when you are a national coach or an Olympic coach and you have to go to a bad program with only so-so fencers," Auriol said.
When De Cicco offered Auriol as position as women's head coach in 1985, Auriol knew it was the perfect opportunity. Notre Dame could offer him a steady paycheck — plus the opportunity for free tuition when Stephane was ready for college — as well as the chance to coach some of the best fencers in the country. Notre Dame had won the national championship in 1977 and '78 and been the runner-up in 1983 and '85.
"It's nice to step in and start working with good fencers right away," Auriol said.
In his first season as Irish coach, the women put together and undefeated regular season and finished second at the NCAA Championships. The next year, Auriol took his team straight to the top — winning a women's national title in 1987. Since that time, Auriol's biggest challenge has been maintaining the high standards he set for himself.
"You are always at the top," he said. "Everyone always expects the fencing team to be at the top. It's not easy. Just because you are good one year, doesn't mean you will be good next year but we have stayed near the top."
Since De Cicco's retirement as men's head coach in 1996 and Auriol's promotion to head coach of both teams, Auriol has kept his teams near the top but hasn't quite been able to break through. From 1996-2000, his teams finished second at every NCAA championship. Last year, the Irish slipped to third but his 2002 team probably has the best talent overall since Auriol became head coach.
"It was frustrating those five years to always finish second but I think this year we have the talent to win it all," Auriol said.
With his best team in years, his fencers say he has stepped up the intensity. Practices are more difficult and Auriol is playing a more active role than before.
"He has been involved more with the practices on a day-to-day basis," epee captain Jan Viviani said. "The last few years, the captains have been running the basic things."
"He is doing to utmost to get us into shape and get us into gear," Walton said. "He knows this is the team we need to beat everyone else. He thinks this is the strongest team we've had in a while so he knows this is our chance to do it."
Auriol said he isn't treating this team any differently from past teams. He expects focus and attention at every practice. So far he hasn't seen that from this team yet but he expects that the focus will soon return.
In the past, Auriol's teams have taken on the same determined, even keel as its coach. Every practice, every dual meets is important in reaching the ultimate goal — a national championship.
Auriol expects his teams to act the same was he does. Put on your warm-ups, go to practice, work hard, go home and to bed, come back the next day and do it all again.
But March 24, all that will change for the first time in 17 years. After the final bout of the NCAA championships, Auriol will take off his warm-ups, go to bed and wake up to a new phase of his life.
All Sports Stories for Friday, January 25, 2002
