In 2023-24, George Pogosov is in his 21st season as co-head coach for the men's and women's fencing teams, and also is the head coach for the Cardinal Fencing Club.
Pogosov, a native of Kiev, Ukraine, won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona for the Unified Team in team saber. He captured silver in the same weapon at the 1988 Seoul Games while representing the Soviet Union. Pogosov, also known as Heorhiy Pohosov, is one of two current Stanford coaches to have won Olympic gold as an athlete, along with synchronized swimming assistant Elvira Khasyanova.
Pogosov was a six-time world champion and 1980 junior world champion. Pogosov is the most accomplished former athlete who works with fencers on the West Coast.
With Pogosov as co-head coach, Stanford has earned has won three individual national titles. Among his Stanford fencers were two-time NCAA foil champion Alexander Massialas, a three-time Olympic medalist and competitor at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics.
Also, Vivian Kong, the 2014 NCAA champion in women's epee, was No. 1 in the world in her weapon in 2019, winning two World Cup events and winning seven medals altogether in the season. Kong, a 2016 and 2020 Olympian for Hong Kong, won bronze at the 2018 and 2022 World Championships in the individual epee.
Pogosov has a master's in physical education with a focus in fencing. He graduated from National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine, and has a diploma from the Tyschler Fencing Academy.
Pogosov served as the coach of the Ukrainian national team and now works with fencers of all levels in addition to his collegiate duties, and teaches all weapons.