Longtime Team USA women’s volleyball coach Karch Kiraly will transition into the same role with the U.S. men’s national volleyball team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, USA Volleyball announced Thursday.
Kiraly — considered one of the sport’s all-time greats who won two Olympic gold medals as an indoor men’s player — will replace coach John Speraw, who led the U.S. men to bronze at the 2016 Games in Rio and the 2024 Games in Paris. Speraw was named USA Volleyball’s president and CEO on Oct. 1.
“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 in a release. “I have complete and total trust in Karch’s process. He has a relentless work ethic, brilliant intellect and is a selfless teacher.”
Kiraly and Speraw have deep roots in the program, with each taking over the head-coaching role of the women’s and men’s national teams, respectively, following the 2012 Olympics.
Kiraly, 63, guided the women’s program to bronze at the 2016 Games followed by its first Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games. He most recently led the team to silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He also helped the program secure its first gold at the 2014 World Championship.
“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 in a release. “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.”
Kiraly amassed a 327-81 record as a head coach of the women’s program. He also served as an assistant coach for four years before transitioning to the head-coaching role, helping the women’s program win silver at the 2012 Olympics.
(Photo: Kaelin Mendez / Getty Images)
