Hugh McCutcheon
Selected as New USA Men’s National Coach
Colorado, USA, February 03,
2005 – Hugh McCutcheon has been selected to become the new head
coach of the USA men’s national volleyball team, USA Volleyball
announced on Thursday.
McCutcheon takes over the position from long-time head coach
Doug Beal, who resigned to become the new Chief Executive
Officer of USA Volleyball.
“It is a great undertaking, obviously, but I am honored and
privileged to be the coach of this team,” said McCutcheon, 35.
“I am genuinely excited to work with the guys and to continue my
relationship with USA Volleyball.
“I have a lot of enthusiasm and passion that I can bring to the
job,” he added. “I am at a position in my life to really commit
myself to this job and give it the time and the energy that it
requires for this team to continue the success that it has had.
“Obviously there is a change of the guard but I think in terms
of the systems we’re going to play…the way we are going to play
the game, fundamentally, is going to be the same. But I think
the gym culture and maybe my ability to relate to the guys is
going to be something that is a little bit different.”
McCutcheon, a native of New Zealand and former New Zealand
junior and senior Volleyball and Beach Volleyball
representative, joined USA Volleyball as a full-time assistant
coach for the men’s national team program in April 2003.
“I am very pleased that we were able to reach an agreement with
Hugh to become the next USA men’s coach,” said Beal, who guided
Team USA to an Olympic gold medal in 1984 and also coached the
USA men at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. “I think his familiarity
with the international men’s world right now, his history with
the current group of USA athletes and his role in preparing the
team as an assistant in Athens gives him the best opportunity to
continue the upward climb of the USA men.”
McCutcheon is no stranger to the organization. In the summers of
2001 and 2002, respectively, he served as a volunteer assistant
coach for the men’s national team, helping out during the 2001
World League, the 2002 World Championships and on five
international tours. He has also served as the head coach of the
USA Boy's Youth National Team in 2000 and 2001.
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