University of Detroit Mercy Athletics

Todd Dressell is entering his 22nd season as the head coach of the men's and women's fencing teams in 2021-22, but last season was canceled due to the pandemic. 

In 2019-20, Sophomore Jaydon Alojipan capped off his impressive sophomore campaign in his first year fencing in sabre with a 10th-place finish in the weapon at the 2020 NCAA Midwest Regional Championship, hosted by the Titans. 

Dressell helped coach his son, Wiley Dressell, to an appearance in the 2019 NCAA Fencing National Championships with Wiley fencing in sabre for the Titans in the national finals in Cleveland, Ohio.

Dressell coached the men's fencing program to a program-best third place finish at the Midwest Fencing Conference Championship in 2016-17. Six men's fencers then competed at the NCAA Midwest Regional before foilist Algird Szumlas qualified for the NCAA National Championship, the first for a Titan since 2011.

The men's fencing team continues its impressive work in the classroom as the Titans were recognized with a NCAA Public Recognition Award for the 13th straight year after the 2017-18 school year. The program is one of just 85 across the nation to be bestowed with the honor.

A graduate of nearby Oakland University, Dressell obtained his bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts and a minor in English Literature.

A former competitive fencer, Dressell was a five-time Michigan Division Champion and a three-time Great Lakes Section Champion, all with the sabre weapon. He is now a member of the United States Fencing Coaches Association and a two-time member of the NCAA Fencing Committee.

Dressell was a member of the Oakland University Fencing Club while in college and he has remained an active member of the fencing community since that time.

Upon graduation, Dressell has worked with the University of Windsor Fencing Club, the University of Michigan-Dearborn Fencing Club, and was a founding partner of the Renaissance Fencing Club in Troy, MI that began in 1997. He still is an active member of the club serving as the sabre coach and as the Chairman of the Board holding both positions since 2008. Dressell has accreditation from the US Fencing Coaches Association as a foil, epee, and sabre moniteur and also has attained referee credentials. He has Level 5 referee status for the foil and sabre weapons and also Level 6 referee status for epee.

He also served as an adjunct faculty member at Oakland Community College teaching in the Natural Sciences Department in the discipline of Physical Education and Recreation.

Dressell began coaching the Titans in the fall of 1999 and inherited a team with a great deal of tradition. The 1972 fencing team is the only Titan team to ever win an NCAA National Championship. It is with great pride and dedication that Dressell continues to cultivate and nurture fencing at Detroit Mercy.

Dressell and his wife Christine reside in Royal Oak with their children, Wiley and Wyatt, who both fenced for the Titans.