University of Minnesota Athletics
McCutcheon Stays With U.S. Volleyball Through 2012 Olympics
3/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Minnesota Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon has agreed to remain in his current USA Volleyball position in a full-time capacity through the 2012 Olympic Games, according to an announcement by USA Volleyball Chief Executive Officer Doug Beal on Tuesday, Mar. 1.
McCutcheon, who has served as either the U.S. Women’s or U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team Head Coach since 2005, accepted the University of Minnesota offer to become its head women’s volleyball coach on Feb. 10. However, he said at the time his arrival as the full-time head coach of the Minnesota program would be at a mutually agreed upon date. McCutcheon will now join the Gopher volleyball team as its full-time head coach after the 2012 Olympic Games on Sept. 1, 2012.
“I am honored to continue serving as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team through the 2012 Olympic Games,” said McCutcheon. “I believe this is the right decision for my family, USA Volleyball and the University of Minnesota. Once the 2012 Olympics are completed, I will invest all of my energy into the University of Minnesota's women's volleyball program. Until then, my attention will be focused on training the U.S. Women’s National Team to be the best it can be at the 2012 Olympic Games. I am extremely grateful to both USA Volleyball and the University of Minnesota Athletic Department for their complete support and understanding of this decision. I have complete confidence in Laura Bush and the staff that will coach the team for the 2011 season. The Gopher program is in good hands."
McCutcheon, 41, has served as the head coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team for the past two seasons after leading the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team to the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
The Golden Gopher volleyball team will be coached by Interim Head Coach Laura Bush during the 2011 season. Bush has been to the Final Four with three different Big Ten programs, advancing as a player with Illinois in 1987 and 88, as an assistant coach with Michigan State in 1995 and with Minnesota. She also has nine years of head coaching experience at the Division I level. Bush was Marquette’s head coach from 1999 to 2001, and was the Auburn’s head coach from 2002 to 2007.
"The hiring of Hugh McCutcheon was made with the understanding that he was the best coach for the long-term for the University of Minnesota," said Director of Athletics Joel Maturi. "From the beginning, Hugh and I have discussed the importance of his commitment to USA Volleyball and the 2012 Olympics. We are honored that Minnesota's new head coach will be representing the United States in London. Laura Bush will do an outstanding job as the Interim Head Coach for the 2011 season and we expect our program to continue to compete at the highest level."
Less than four months after leading the U.S. Men’s National Team to the 2008 Olympic Games gold medal, McCutcheon agreed to serve as head coach position with the U.S. Women’s National Team through the 2012 Olympic Games. Through his first two years with the U.S. Women’s National Team, He has developed a unit built around both established veterans and young players capable of competing on the international scene. The team, currently ranked second in the FIVB world ranking, has a 46-27 record in two years, despite transitioning to new techniques employed by McCutcheon and his staff. In addition, McCutcheon has brought in over 70 players into the gym for evaluation and over half have been part of an international trip representing the USA.
Last season he guided the U.S. Women’s National Team to a 28-13 record – a 10-match improvement in the victory column from his first season with squad in 2009. The U.S. claimed the silver medal at the 2010 Montreux Volley Masters and the bronze medal at the 2010 Pan American Cup in June. Using a starting lineup of two rookies and four players with less than two years of experience, the Americans earned the gold medal at the 2010 FIVB World Grand Prix, the premier annual women’s international tournament. The 2010 season was capped by a fourth-place finish at the FIVB Women’s World Championship.
“USA Volleyball just finished its largest ever U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts, and the interest in the program has never been greater,” Beal said. “A lot of this success relates to how Hugh has developed the program and reached out to the college community.”
McCutcheon, who has served as either the U.S. Women’s or U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team Head Coach since 2005, accepted the University of Minnesota offer to become its head women’s volleyball coach on Feb. 10. However, he said at the time his arrival as the full-time head coach of the Minnesota program would be at a mutually agreed upon date. McCutcheon will now join the Gopher volleyball team as its full-time head coach after the 2012 Olympic Games on Sept. 1, 2012.
“I am honored to continue serving as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team through the 2012 Olympic Games,” said McCutcheon. “I believe this is the right decision for my family, USA Volleyball and the University of Minnesota. Once the 2012 Olympics are completed, I will invest all of my energy into the University of Minnesota's women's volleyball program. Until then, my attention will be focused on training the U.S. Women’s National Team to be the best it can be at the 2012 Olympic Games. I am extremely grateful to both USA Volleyball and the University of Minnesota Athletic Department for their complete support and understanding of this decision. I have complete confidence in Laura Bush and the staff that will coach the team for the 2011 season. The Gopher program is in good hands."
McCutcheon, 41, has served as the head coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team for the past two seasons after leading the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team to the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
The Golden Gopher volleyball team will be coached by Interim Head Coach Laura Bush during the 2011 season. Bush has been to the Final Four with three different Big Ten programs, advancing as a player with Illinois in 1987 and 88, as an assistant coach with Michigan State in 1995 and with Minnesota. She also has nine years of head coaching experience at the Division I level. Bush was Marquette’s head coach from 1999 to 2001, and was the Auburn’s head coach from 2002 to 2007.
"The hiring of Hugh McCutcheon was made with the understanding that he was the best coach for the long-term for the University of Minnesota," said Director of Athletics Joel Maturi. "From the beginning, Hugh and I have discussed the importance of his commitment to USA Volleyball and the 2012 Olympics. We are honored that Minnesota's new head coach will be representing the United States in London. Laura Bush will do an outstanding job as the Interim Head Coach for the 2011 season and we expect our program to continue to compete at the highest level."
Less than four months after leading the U.S. Men’s National Team to the 2008 Olympic Games gold medal, McCutcheon agreed to serve as head coach position with the U.S. Women’s National Team through the 2012 Olympic Games. Through his first two years with the U.S. Women’s National Team, He has developed a unit built around both established veterans and young players capable of competing on the international scene. The team, currently ranked second in the FIVB world ranking, has a 46-27 record in two years, despite transitioning to new techniques employed by McCutcheon and his staff. In addition, McCutcheon has brought in over 70 players into the gym for evaluation and over half have been part of an international trip representing the USA.
Last season he guided the U.S. Women’s National Team to a 28-13 record – a 10-match improvement in the victory column from his first season with squad in 2009. The U.S. claimed the silver medal at the 2010 Montreux Volley Masters and the bronze medal at the 2010 Pan American Cup in June. Using a starting lineup of two rookies and four players with less than two years of experience, the Americans earned the gold medal at the 2010 FIVB World Grand Prix, the premier annual women’s international tournament. The 2010 season was capped by a fourth-place finish at the FIVB Women’s World Championship.
“USA Volleyball just finished its largest ever U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts, and the interest in the program has never been greater,” Beal said. “A lot of this success relates to how Hugh has developed the program and reached out to the college community.”
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