WALTHAM, Mass. -- The Brandeis University Department of Athletics has announced two new full-time assistant coaches, both with histories as members of the program. Long-time saber coach Matthew Zich has been named Brandeis's first full-time assistant fencing coach after seven years as a part-time assistant. Benton Ferebee '23 has been added as the new assistant coach for Brandeis swimming and diving, as well as the program's aquatic director.

Zich has been a part-time coach for the Judges for the past seven years. During that time, he has established himself as one of the premier collegiate saber coaches in all of NCAA fencing. He has earned Division III Assistant Coach of the Year honors three times in his career, and in 2023 and 2024 was named the National Collegiate Assistant Coach of the Year by the United States Fencing Coaches Association. 

"Matt has been such an integral part of our success over the past seven years," head fencing coach Elif Soyer Sachs said. "I am delighted that he is able to join our staff on a full-time basis and continue our tradition of excellence."

Since 2020, Zich's saber fencers have been named National Collegiate All-Americans seven times, including back-to-back National Collegiate Women's Saber Fencer of the Year Maggie Shealy '23/MPP '25 and men's National Collegiate Saber Fencer of the Year Tony Escueta '25 in 2024. In 2025, Lev BenAvram '26 earned All-Division All-America honors as he climbed the US Fencing national rankings and earned a spot as a United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee's Elite Caliber NCAA Athlete.

In 2020, Zich was recognized by USAFencing as part of the Spirit of Sport Recognition Program, which honors members of the fencing community who have exemplified outstanding dedication to the sport and are an inspiration to others.

Zich was a member of the US National Fencing Team from 2003 through 2009, representing his country at World Championships in Korea, Italy, France, and Austria. He was the top-ranked sabre fencer in America as a Cadet, when he was among the top five in the world, and as a junior. He remained among the top five nationally as a senior fencer as well. Zich was trained by some of the top sabre coaches in the world, including Yury Gelman, Emmanuel Kaidanov, and Zoran Tulum.

Since the end of his competitive career, Zich has coached privately at New Amsterdam Fencing Academy and Nyack Fencing Club in New York, Zeta Fencing Club in Natick, Massachusetts, and, since 2018 has served as the head sabre coach at the Boston Fencing Club in Brighton in addition to his duties at Brandeis. He has also continued to support his student-athletes in the international level at World Cup and Grand Prix events.
 
Ferebee was a member of the Brandeis swimming and diving team from 2018 through 2023. A former team captain, he was a finalist at multiple University Athletic Association championship meets.  At UAAs, he set the program record in the 50-yard backstroke (2023) and was a member of relay teams that set program records in the 200 medley (2022, 2023) and 400 medley (2022).  He was the recipient of the swim team Coaches' Award in 2022 and the department's Athletic Director's Award in 2023.  While a student at Brandeis, Ferebee worked in the athletic communications department and as a lifeguard at Linsey Pool.  He also spent a summer interning with the Boston College sports performance program.

"I am thrilled to welcome Benton back to Brandeis," head coach of swimming and diving Nicole Carter said. "We are excited for him to bring what he learned at American University and combine it with his passion and love for the Judges. Benton understands what it means to be a student-athlete competing in the UAA, and I know he will use that perspective to inspire and guide our team."  

Most recently, Ferebee worked at American University from 2023 to 2025, where he was part of the Eagles' sports performance staff.  During this time, he also coached for Nation's Capital Swim Club.
 
Ferebee graduated from Brandeis in 2023 with a B.S. in Health: Science, Society, & Policy.