Mauro Hamza

Mauro Hamza
Biographical details
Born1965 or 1966 (age 58–59)[1]
Cairo, Egypt
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1994Texas A&M
1995–2014Rice University
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
2004 Egyptian National Foil Coach

Maher "Mauro" Hamza (born 1965 or 1966 (age 58–59)) is a fencing coach who was born in Cairo, Egypt.[1][2] He coached at Texas A&M, Rice University, for US national teams, and for the Egyptian Olympic team. In November 2023, Hamza was ruled permanently ineligible by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which cited "Sexual Misconduct - involving Minors" as the reason for his ban.[1]

Biography

[edit]

1994–2014

[edit]

In 1994, Hamza coached at Texas A&M for one year.[2][1]

Hamza then served as Fencing Program Coordinator at Rice University from 1995 to 2014.[1][3][4] He spent three years serving the Southwest fencing community as volunteer Chairman of the Gulf Coast Division.[5][6]

In August 1999, he established a youth fencing club, Salle Mauro, in Houston, Texas, where he lived.[7][1][3] He also lived in Pearland, Texas, in 2011.[8]

Hamza was head coach of the 2001 United States Junior/Cadet national fencing team.[2] Hamza was the Egyptian Olympic coach for the men’s and women’s foil teams at the Athens Olympics in 2004, and was the United States Fencing Association Men’s Foil National Coach 2009–10; then USA Fencing Foil Director for Men’s and Women’s National teams in 2010–11.[1][3][8] In 2009, December 26 was declared “Mauro Hamza Day” by Houston mayor Bill White in recognition of his development of the sport of fencing in Houston.[5][3]

2014–present

[edit]

On December 3, 2014, Hamza's membership with USA Fencing was suspended until December 4, 2019, or until certain conditions were met, whichever would be later.[9][10] His suspension was for unspecified sexual misconduct in Houston.[11][1][3]

Five years later, in 2019 he was suspended again by the U.S. Center for SafeSport for “Allegations of Misconduct”.[12][13]

In 2020, Hamza was the technical director of the Egyptian National Fencing Team.[14] In 2021, Hamza was coaching in Egypt, and was the technical director leading the Egyptian National Youth Fencing Team.[15][16] He coaches his son Mohamed Hamza, who fences for the Egyptian national fencing team and fenced for Princeton University.[17][18][14]

In March 2021, a once aspiring Olympic fencer filed a civil lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court in Arizona against him accusing Hamza of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s when she was a minor.[19][20][21] The lawsuit was moved to the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, and settled in December 2022 by Hamza and the US Fencing Association.[19][22][23]

In November 2023, Hamza was ruled permanently ineligible by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which cited "Sexual Misconduct - involving Minors" as the reason for his ban.[1]

Personal life

[edit]

Hamza's wife is Noura Younis, who as of 2021 was general manager of Salle Mauro.[20]

See also

[edit]
  • Alen Hadzic, fencer ruled permanently ineligible by SafeSport due to sexual misconduct

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Josh Peter (November 7, 2023). "Former national fencing coach ruled permanently ineligible by US Center for SafeSport". USA TODAY.
  2. ^ a b c David Medina (October 4, 2001). "Hamza has a plan to lead Rice's fencing team to success". Rice News. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e Edwards, Schaefer (April 7, 2021). "Former Rice Fencing Coach Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Houston Teen In '90s". Houston Press.
  4. ^ Morik, Ryan (November 8, 2023). "Former US fencing coach gets permanent ineligibility for alleged sexual misconduct involving minors". Fox News.
  5. ^ a b "Bill White Proclaims December 26 Mauro Hamza Day in Houston, Texas" Archived 2011-07-12 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Moisekapenda Bower (January 27, 2010). "He Won't Be Foiled". Rice Magazine.
  7. ^ "Fencer-turned-coach still sharp on other side of the fence; Mauro Hamza of the Salle Mauro Fencing Academy may have a history of duels, but his focus remains pointed," Houston Business Journal.
  8. ^ a b "Team USA Places Fifth at Bonn Foil World Cup". USA Fencing. March 23, 2011.
  9. ^ Rana, Aqsa Younas (November 10, 2023). "Former USA Fencing Coach Faces Permanent Ban Over Alleged Sexual Misconduct". BNN Breaking.
  10. ^ "Ineligible and Suspended Member List" [1] Archived 2019-11-21 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Erasmus Baxter (April 5, 2021). "Abuse Lawsuit Against U.S. Fencing Names Star Coach, Alleges Phoenix Assault". Phoenix New Times.
  12. ^ Edwards, Schaefer (April 7, 2021). "Former Rice Fencing Coach Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Houston Teen In '90s". Houston Press.
  13. ^ "Ineligible Member List". USA Fencing.
  14. ^ a b Mariam Nowar (January 21, 2020). "Mohamed Hamza Wins Fencing Golden Medal in Youth Epee World Cup". Cairo 360.
  15. ^ Alaa Moustafa (April 7, 2021). "Egypt's national youth fencing team achieves world glory". Daily News Egypt.
  16. ^ "Egyptian youth team snatch Gold in Fencing World championship". Egypt Today. April 6, 2021.
  17. ^ "HAMZA MOHAMED," FIE.
  18. ^ "Awty Student Mohamed Hamza to Compete in Summer Olympic Games". The Awty International School. June 27, 2016.
  19. ^ a b "Former national fencing coach ruled permanently ineligible by US Center for SafeSport". USA TODAY.
  20. ^ a b Edwards, Schaefer. "Former Rice Fencing Coach Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Houston Teen In '90s". Houston Press.
  21. ^ Baxter, Erasmus. "Abuse Lawsuit Against U.S. Fencing Names Star Coach, Alleges Phoenix Assault". Phoenix New Times.
  22. ^ "US Fencing Association, Coach Settle Athlete's Sex Abuse Claims". Bloomberg.
  23. ^ "Doe v. United States Fencing Association, 2:21-cv-00551". CourtListener.