Three-time Olympic gold medalist Karch Kiraly will coach the U.S. men’s national volleyball team at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, USA Volleyball announced Thursday.
He replaces John Speraw, who coached the team for 12 years but recently was named the president and CEO of USA Volleyball.
Most recently, Kiraly coached the U.S. women’s national team, beginning the job in September 2012. He led the women’s squad to a 327-81 record, which included its first world championship in 2014 and a full set of Olympic medals — bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, gold in the 2020 Games in Tokyo and silver in the Paris Olympics this summer.
As a player, he won Olympic gold medals in indoor volleyball (1984, 1988) and one in beach volleyball (1996).
Kiraly, who turns 64 next month, was named the greatest volleyball player of the 20th century by the International Volleyball Federation.
“I am thrilled that Team USA’s greatest winner will be moving from the U.S. Women’s Team to lead the U.S. Men into LA 2028,” Speraw said. “I have complete and total trust in Karch’s process. He has a relentless work ethic, brilliant intellect and is a selfless teacher.”
Kiraly, raised in Santa Barbara, Calif., is coming full circle, back to Los Angeles. He led UCLA to three NCAA titles (1979, 1981-82) before winning his first gold medal in Los Angeles in 1984.
“Chances to collaborate with some of the best people and players on the planet — and to represent our country while striving for incredibly difficult goals like Olympic gold medals — are precious beyond words,” Kiraly said. “For one-quarter of my life, I’ve poured everything I have into the U.S. Women’s Team; first as an assistant, then as head coach. Now, it’s time for new adventures and new challenges.”
The U.S. men won the bronze medal in Paris and are ranked No. 3 in the world.
“All of us at USA Volleyball recognize that our record of success in the sport began when Karch led Team USA to the gold medal in 1984,” Speraw said. “I think it is fitting that when Karch steps onto the court at the LA Olympics, he will be competing with the men’s team one more time.”
–Field Level Media
