PASADENA, CA – Fencing head coach Carla Corbit was named the NCAA West Region Coach of the Year.

The award is voted on by the region's four head coaches which also includes Stanford, UC San Diego and Air Force.

"Coaching at Caltech has expanded my ideas on fencing, motivation, trust, determination, and what it takes to win on all levels," said Corbit. "Caltech athletes have a sense of excitement and curiosity, a fire within to pursue excellence, working not as individuals but as a team.  We are developing a culture of winning step by step, with each new frosh coming to practice in the fall, and each graduating senior in June. Our goals are the basics, each practice, and every tournament, believe you can win, train to win."

Corbit, who just completed her third season at the Beavers head coach, has qualified 11 different individuals to compete at the annual NCAA West Region competition. Caltech successfully hosted the NCAA West Regional championship in March.

"Carla has had such a huge impact on the team over the past three years," said two-time regional qualifier Katie Fisher. "We have people of almost every skill level fencing on the team, and she's done such a great job of making sure that everyone is improving and having a good time. Not only is she an amazing coach, but she inspires everyone to go the extra mile and really do our best.  Without her dedication, I don't think we would have done nearly as well as we did this year!"

The native of Seattle, Wash., has over 20 years of international fencing experience on her resume. She has coached U.S. National Champions as well as World Cup medalists. She is a two-time recipient of the United State Fencing Association coaches award.