Alexander Ripa joined the Harvard fencing staff as a coaching assistant on Aug. 3, 2009.  In this capactiy, Ripa works with the Crimson men’s and women’s foil squads.

In his first season with the Crimson fencers, three foilists achieved All-America honorable mention status. At the 2010 NCAA Championships, Shelby MacLeod earned an 11th place finish while Artemisha Goldfeder and Tommasso di Robilant each garnered a 12th place finish.

In 2011-12, two men's foil fencers: Lucas Lin (eighth) and Brian Kaneshige (12th) earned All-America honors as the NCAA Championships. In addition, Alexandra Kiefer (11th) also received All-America accolades in the foil. 

During the 2012-13 campaign, Harvard finished sixth at the NCAA Championships, while seven fencers earned All-America accolades. Peregrine Badger finished third and Michael Raynis was 11th in the epee, while Brian Kaneshige (seventh) and Michael Woo (eighth) represented Harvard in the foil. In the women's foil, Alexandra Kifer finished sixth, while Nina van Loon was 11th in the epee and Aliya Itzkowitz placed 12th in the sabre.

Harvard also claimed the Ivy League title in 2013, its second crown in three seasons (2011).

Ripa has coached numerous elite fencers who have competed internationally and nationally and he has guided a number of champions and medalists at the Cadet World Championships, National Championships, Junior Olympic Championships and the Cadet Designated World Cup. He has also instructed current Harvard fencers James Harwot and Anna Podolsky, former Harvard fencer Kai Itameri-Kinter '09 and members of the United States National team.

As the owner and head coach of the Rhode Island Fencing Academy and Club in Warren, R.I., which he founded in 1994, Ripa has trained and supervised coaches, organized and implemented elite athlete training, taught group classes and private lessons and recruited and managed athletes.

Ripa holds a Moniteur certificate in the foil, epee and sabre from the United States Fencing Association/Academie d’Armes Internationale. He also has earned a level 1 sabre and epee and level 3 foil certificates from the United States Fencing Association Coaches College. He is a level 6 United States Fencing Association rated foil and level 8 rated epee and sabre referee. Ripa is a member of the USFA Youth Development and USFA Schools/Clubs Committees and holds a Coaching Principles Certificate from the American Sport Education Program.

Ripa graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art in 1995.