ACFA Coaches

Richard Howard

RICHARD HOWARD ACFA Head Coach ACFA Board of Directors USFA Coach Competitive Member   Coach Howard has been coaching fencing for over 30 years.  He is certified by the United States Fencing Coaches Association and the Academie d' Armes Internationale as a Moniteur D' Escrime in foil, epee and sabre.  He is also a coaching member of the United States Fencing Association.  Coach Howard was initially trained by his maternal grandfather, Mr. T. E. Anderson, who was a student of Ralph Faulkner at the Falcon Studios in the late 1920's and early 1930's.  In addition, as a young teenager, Coach Howard's grandfather placed him under the tutelage of Maestro Nick Toth in Colorado Springs in 1960.  Coach Howard has helped develop the talent of numerous fencers, producing numerous fencers who have competed at the National Junior Olympic Championships and other national competitions.  He is also a certified fencing referee in all three weapons.  Coach Howard is retired from Amarillo College, where he taught biology for many years.   He still serves as the curator of the AC Natural History Museum.  He is also a concert pianist and has composed a suite for piano called "Prairie Visions," which can be purchased at music stores in the Amarillo area. Click here for a personal message from Coach Howard!

Chuck Slaughter	CHUCK SLAUGHTER ACFA Coach & Competitive Fencer Chairman of ACFA Board of Directors USFA Coach Competitive Member Sabre E07, Epee C09, Foil D06 2006 USFA Volunteer Coach of the Year 2006 USOC Volunteer Coach of the Year Finalist   Chuck Slaughter is a Coach and competitive fencer with Amarillo College Fencing Association.  He has been fencing competitively since 1999.  Chuck was selected as the 2006 Volunteer Coach of the Year by the United States Fencing Association and was a National Finalist for the 2006 United States Olympic Committee Volunteer Coach of the Year Award.  He has completed his Level 1 Coaches certification in foil and epee at the United States Fencing Association's Coaches College, held at the U. S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Chuck is the coach for the Beginning and Intermediate Youth Fencing Classes in Amarillo College's "personal enrichment" department, teaching children ages 8 to 13.    He also serves as a coach for the Amarillo College adult beginning fencing class and the intermediate to advanced fencers at AC.  He is also the coach of Juleah Nusz, the 2009 USFA National Champion in Junior Women's Epee.  He has served as Chairman (2005-2007), Vice-Chairman (2007-2009) and Secretary (2003-2005) of the Plains Texas Division of the USFA and is the 2009-2010 Division Chairman.  He is married to Gayle, and they have two children, Jared and Courtney.  He has been an Assistant District Attorney in Amarillo, Potter County, Texas, since 1989.  He is the Chief Prosecutor in the 251st District Court and works with local law enforcement agencies investigating child abuse in Potter County.  He is a member of the board of directors of The Bridge Children's Advocacy Center in Amarillo. A message from Chuck about registering for class at AC!
Jared Slaughter	JARED SLAUGHTER ACFA Coach & Competitive Fencer Sabre U, Epee B07, Foil C06 National Junior Olympic Championships 2000, 2001, 2003 USFA National Championships 2003 Former ACFA Red Shirt PLAINS TEXAS DIVISION CUP 2006 - Senior Men's Epee 2005 - Senior Men's Foil 2005 - Senior Men's Epee   Coach Jared Slaughter has served as a coach at ACFA in some form or fashion since 2001, when he began working as a teaching assistant in the AC youth fencing classes.  He was a student at Amarillo College and Texas Tech, where he fenced competitively for the Double T Fencing Club and served as an Assistant Coach.  He returned to Amarillo in 2009 and is currently employed by McCoy Myers and Associates in Amarillo.  He also serves as a fencing referee for tournaments in the Plains Texas Division.
Ben Simpson	BEN SIMPSON ACFA Coach Sabre C07, Epee C08, Foil C09   More information coming soon.
Josh Evans	JOSH EVANS USFA Coach Competitive Member   Due to personal and family commitments, Coach Evans is currently inactive and on an indefinite leave of absence as a coach for USFA.
Jay Young	JAY YOUNG USFA Coach Competitive Member   Coach Young moved to Alice, Texas, in July 2010, to accept a position with the Alice Independent School District.  It is his intention to list ACFA as his secondary club but he will no longer be able to serve as a coach at ACFA.  We wish him well in his new endeavors.
Trey Sluder	TREY SLUDER USFA Coach Competitive Member   Coach Sluder has moved to Colorado Springs, accepting a position there after his graduation.  He is on an indefinite leave of absence as a coach with ACFA.