Michael Bindas, who has been an assistant coach for the Highlander fencing teams for two seasons (2022-23, 2023-24), was elevated to Men's and Women's Fencing Head Coach in July 2024 will enter his third season at the helm of the Highlanders in 2026-27.
He joined the NJIT fencing coaching staff as an assistant coach in September 2022, coaching the Highlanders for two seasons until being named the next head coach to succeed Jason Henderson in July 2024.
During the 2025-26 season, under Bindas’ leadership, Paul Veltrup and Fabio Mastromarino were named to the USFCA All-American Second Team. Veltrup placed fifth in the men’s epee at the 2026 NCAA Fencing Championships, while Mastromarino placed seventh, with both earning All-American honors. Additionally, three Highlanders earned USFCA All-Region Honors—Veltrup, Mastromarino, and Julian Detering. The NJIT Men’s Epee squad also captured the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association (MACFA) Championship title.
Prior to his arrival at NJIT, Bindas led the Drew Rangers in 2022 to a third-place finish for the men at the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association (MACFA) Championships, earning MACFA Coach of the Year. The Ranger men finished 57-14, setting a school record for single-season victories.
Bindas, the 2022 Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association (MACFA) Coach of the Year at Drew University, was the Interim head coach of the Rangers (2022) and served as an assistant coach since 2019 before being promoted to head coach.
He helped develop Michael DeSando '23, who was honored as the 2022 United States Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA) Division III Men's Foil Athlete of the Year while Amira Mutakabbir '25 was selected as the USFCA Division III Women's Epee Athlete of the Year. DeSando was also recognized as a USFCA Honorable Mention All-American and a USFCA All-Region selection while Caira Blake '24 was named to the USFCA All-Region squad for the women's team.
Bindas arrived at Drew as an Assistant Coach for the Rangers for the 2019-20 season, helping the men's team finish 55-19 and the women's squad go 46-18. One year later, he helped the men's team send a school-record six competitors to the 2021 NCAA Championships while a combined six men's and women's athletes earned All-America honors. He was honored as the USFCA Division III Men's Fencing Assistant Coach of the Year.
For over two decades, Bindas has been active in fencing as a competitor, collegiate coach, club coach, and high school coach in both the United States and France. He has guided numerous athletes to victory at both Regional and USA National fencing events.
Before Drew, Bindas led the Montclair (NJ) High School fencing team to medals at the 2018-19 New Jersey State Championships (second place) and the 2017-18 Epee Team New Jersey State Championships (first place).
Updated May 2026
