Earlier in 2012, the U.S. captured the FIVB World Grand Prix gold medal for the third consecutive year. Team USA was 14-0 in the 2012 edition, including victories over Olympic Games bound Brazil twice (No. 2 in the world), Italy (No. 4), China (No. 5), Turkey (No. 7), Dominican Republic (No. 8) and Serbia (No. 9). The U.S. ended the 2012 campaign with a 30-2 record following the Olympic Games.
Karch Kiraly
Head Coach (September 2012-present)
“I spent much of the last quad focusing on the task at hand, trying to be the best team we could be, especially in London,” Kiraly said. “But as Hugh’s departure drew near, I became thoroughly convinced and excited about carrying this work forward.”
Home: San Clemente, Calif.
Karch Kiraly, a legendary volleyball player in the indoor and beach disciplines who turned to coaching as an assistant for the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team that earned the silver medal at the recent 2012 Olympic Games, was named the program’s head coach for the next Olympic Games quadrennial culminating at the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Games, as announced by USA Volleyball Chief Executive Officer Doug Beal on Sept. 11, 2012. “I have revered representing the USA and wearing the Red, White and Blue ever since my first experience with the Junior National Team at 16 years old,” Kiraly said. “It is a tremendous honor to be asked to lead such a powerful volleyball program, and I am thrilled to be able to carry forward the effort expended by this hard-working and talented group of athletes – an effort led by my mentor and friend, previous (U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team) Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon, and his staff.” “It is hard for me to define how excited I am that Karch has agreed to become our next U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team coach,” Beal said. “I have often heard him compared to Michael Jordan as a dominant performer and personality. It is extremely rare that someone who was so talented and successful on the court can successfully make the transition to that same level in the coaching world. Karch is unique and USA Volleyball is fortunate and lucky to have him to continue the leadership of our National Team program.” Kiraly, 51, joined the coaching staff in 2009 under the direction of McCutcheon, who has assumed the head women’s volleyball coach position at the University of Minnesota. “I could not be happier with USA Volleyball’s decision to select Karch as the head coach of the USA Women’s National Volleyball Team,” McCutcheon said of his successor. “He’s a great man and a wonderful volleyball coach - this is a fantastic hire.” In his first international coaching experience in indoor volleyball, Kiraly helped the program to a 106-39 record over the past Olympic quadrennial. He played a key role in helping the U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team capture its second consecutive Olympic Games silver medal at the 2012 London Games. The Americans finished with a 7-1 record with only a loss to Brazil in the title match. “I’m attracted to coach the USA Women’s Team for many reasons: first, we have a group of athletes dedicated to fierce effort, to improvement and to redefining what’s possible on a volleyball court,” Kiraly said. “Another appeal is the daily process of a group of people - athletes and staff - striving to be one team, and to being the best team we can be, with the hope that our best might be THE best. A third draw is the strong trajectory the program is already on, with consistent success and numerous podium finishes the last 5 years.”
The U.S., currently ranked No. 1 in the world after over-taking Brazil in November of 2011, finished the 2011 season with a 39-10 record. Among the team’s highlights were picking up the silver medal at the FIVB World Cup, their second consecutive FIVB World Grand Prix title, capturing the NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship and winning the bronze medal at the Pan American Cup. Team USA knocked off Brazil twice in 2011, along with three wins over World Cup champion Italy and two wins over China (seven wins over 2012 Olympic Games qualified teams). Overall, the U.S. scored an 11-match victory improvement over 2010 and a 21-victory improvement from two years ago. “I think it is an incredible decision by USA Volleyball, it is the best decision they could have made,” said Lindsey Berg, a three-time U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball setter. “Having a coach who already knows the core group who will return for the next quad and has the respect from the group and became a big part of our team is a great way to start the quad going for gold in the next Olympics. The experiences that he has gone through, you can’t replace those or ignore every experience in volleyball that he has been involved. To bring that as a coach and be able to relate to players, and know how to communicate these experiences and how to teach them so everyone else will have those experiences is amazing. He is a great technical coach who has been through it all. He is a good game coach and really knows how to talk to us. I think he is going to be so successful and I am so excited for him.” “I am really happy that Karch has accepted the position as I think it is a great decision on a lot of levels,” said Nicole Davis, libero for the past two U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Teams that won silver in Beijing and London. “Most importantly I think it is great for the continuity of the program on building what has been accomplished over the last four years. Karch was in the gym the past four years learning from a great coach in Hugh (McCutcheon). Karch is a genuinely liked person and he is the type of guy you want to go to battle with. He is already a leader in our gym. I have learned a lot from Karch on the game and how to compete. I think he is a really good fit for the program.” Kiraly has been recognized by many as the greatest volleyball player ever. He is the only volleyball player –male or female – to win Olympic Games gold medals in both the indoor and beach volleyball disciplines. Further, Kiraly is the first volleyball player – and one of only two ever – to win three gold medals in the sport. Accordingly, his coaching foundation is built around many of the mentors he had during his playing days and his recent coaching tenure. “My foundational principles were established decades ago, having had the opportunity to play for and work with many of the best coaches in the history of this sport: the short list includes Rick Olmstead, Al Scates, Doug Beal, Bill Neville, Marv Dunphy and more recently Hugh McCutcheon,” Kiraly said. “I lived my athletic career with these principles as my guide, and continue to adhere to them as a volleyball
Kiraly looks to move the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team to an even higher plateau than it already has achieved. “This program has such a history of high performance and accomplished so much, including three Olympic Games silver medals … yet is has never won a Triple Crown Event: a World Championships, a World Cup or an Olympics,” Kiraly said. “At some point, the USA Women will change that, and I yearn to help in that effort.” “I am confident Karch will represent USA Volleyball, USA and our sport in the most positive way possible and help us elevate the sport and the USA Women’s Team to levels we have not seen,” Beal said. “It is pretty hard to follow the success of our past two Olympics, but no one is in a better situation to do so than Karch. I have worked with Karch at many levels, and I am never ceased to be amazed by his abilities, his accomplishments and his drive. Part of my excitement is anticipating what he can do for our USA Women’s Team.”
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