Gia Kvaratskhelia

Guiorgie “Gia” Kvaratskhelia (GEE-uh KVA-ra-SKELL-ee-uh) became the seventh head coach in Notre Dame fencing history in 2014. Kvaratskhelia is a foil specialist, and is quickly building his legacy as one of the nation’s top collegiate coaches after leading the Irish to five national championships in 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023 and earning national coach of the year honors by the United States Fencing Coaching Association in 2018. Prior to joining the Notre Dame coaching staff, Kvaratskhelia spent 10 years as coach of the Kanza Fencing Club in Salina, Kansas. In that time, Kvaratskhelia transformed Kanza from a small recreational club into one of the nation’s top foil centers.

Kvaratskhelia — who became a U.S. citizen in 2004 — immigrated to the United States in 1994 from the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. Noted for his tremendous communication skills, Kvaratskhelia is fluent in Georgian, English and Russian. He received his bachelor’s degree in physical education and sport in 1993 from the Georgian State Physical Training Institute in his hometown of Tbilisi. He also earned a sports journalism certificate from that institution (’92) and pursued graduate studies in journalism at Tbilisi State University in 1993 prior to coming to the United States.

Kvaratskhelia and his wife, Dani Edson, have one daughter, Maya, and one son, Alexander.