March/April 2013 Inside HP Newsletter

Speraw, continued from page 1.

The U.S. Men’s National Team moved to Anaheim in 2006 and it is now the Official Host City for both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Volleyball Teams.

In 2008, Speraw traveled with McCutcheon and the U.S. Men to the Olympic Games in Beijing where they won the gold medal. After 2008, he worked with the U.S. Men as needed, including a stint as the head coach of a young team that finished fifth at the 2011 Pan American Games.

In 2012, Speraw returned as the assistant coach for the FIVB World League and filled in as head coach for the 2012 World League team for four overseas pool play matches while then head coach Alan Knipe was dealing with a family emergency. The U.S. Men went on to win the silver medal in the FIVB World League Final Round.

Speraw assisted Knipe at the 2012 Olympic Games in London where the U.S. Men placed fifth after winning its preliminary pool with a 4-1 record. The U.S. Men go into 2013 ranked fifth in the world by the FIVB. Clay Stanley, who played at opposite on the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Olympic teams and has served as the U.S. Men’s team captain since 2011, was happy with the choice.

“I am surprised and pleased that John Speraw will be the new U.S. Men’s

head coach,” Stanley said, “He is obviously a great choice for the job, having served as an assistant coach for two Olympics. I know the players will be excited to work with him and his staff.”

Speraw served as head coach of the U.S. Men’s Junior National Volleyball Team that won the silver medal at the NORCECA Men’s Junior (U-21) Continental Volleyball Championship in 2004 and the team that placed sixth at the 2005 FIVB Junior World Championship. He served as an assistant for the U.S. Boys’ Youth National Team (1998 and 2001), the World University Games Team (1997 and 1999) and the Pan American Games Team (1999, 2007).

Speraw said one of his first priorities will be choosing a staff to help guide the U.S. Men’s Team over the next four years. He will also need to choose rosters for the 2013 FIVB World League and the 2013 Pan American Cup within his first few weeks on the job.

“Hiring a great staff is going to be key to making this endeavor successful,” Speraw said. “After that, our immediate goals will be World League and the Pan American Cup.” Speraw knows he had some big decisions to make in 2013.

“I do need to have some conversations with some of the players about what their plans are for the next for years,” he said. “This is the time when everyone’s making some decisions. Potentially, it’s about turnover and who the young guys are and how much experience we can get them early.

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