University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Christopher Mitchell
McCutcheon And Gopher Athletics Agree to Reduced Role
6/9/2026 8:55:00 AM | Volleyball
University of Minnesota former head volleyball coach and current assistant athletic director Hugh McCutcheon, will be reducing his role with Gopher athletic to focus more on international volleyball. His last day as a full time employee with Golden Gopher athletics will be June 14. McCutcheon, who was named the International Volleyball Federation's (FIVB) Secretary General in November of 2024, will continue his work with the FIVB to grow, develop and govern the sport globally as well as helping to manage international events, including the indoor and beach volleyball competitions at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. McCutcheon will still be available to advise and consult ICA stakeholders.
"It's been an honor and a privilege to work at the University of Minnesota for the last 14 years," McCutcheon said. "While this is not goodbye, I won't be on campus nearly as much. Thank you to Joel Maturi for helping me understand the potential and the opportunity this program presented. Without him, I wouldn't have come here. I'm also extremely grateful and deeply indebted to Mark Coyle for his belief and support during my tenure, especially when I left coaching and moved into administration.
"During my time here, I was able to work with some incredible coaches and I am so grateful to all of them for their hard work and the significant contributions they made to our success. Of course, none of that success is possible without the student athletes. Thank you to all of the Golden Gophers who trusted us enough to let us teach, coach and mentor them. Their effort and commitment transformed this program.
"Lastly, a big thank you to our Gopher volleyball fans and the broader University community. Thanks for making our family feel so welcome here and for making the Pav. the best place in the country to compete. While I'm excited to continue my work with the FIVB, I'll always be grateful to this University and its people."
McCutcheon, hailing from Christchurch, New Zealand, came to Minnesota after a remarkable coaching career with USA Volleyball. During his time with the US national teams, he earned two Olympic medals with the United States Men's (gold) and Women's (silver) teams, making him, to this day, the only USA team-sport coach to medal with both genders. McCutcheon started his international coaching career as an assistant coach with the USA men at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. He was named head coach of the USA men in 2005 and the team finished the quadrennial as 2008 Olympic Champions, FIVB World League Champions, and ranked No. 2 in the world. He started coaching the USA women in 2009 and finished the quadrennial as 2012 Olympic silver medalists, three time FIVB Grand Prix Champions, and ranked No. 1 in the world.
Following his time with USA Volleyball, McCutcheon spent 11 years at the helm of Golden Gopher volleyball. He led the Gophers to three final fours, two Big Ten Championships, in addition to five elite eight and 10 Sweet 16 appearances. Named the 2015 AVCA National Coach of the Year, McCutcheon helped Minnesota continue to evolve as a national volleyball powerhouse. In his 11 seasons he led the Gophers to a 277-74 record. The two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year guided six players to Big Ten Player of the Year honors (in 6 of McCutcheon's 11 seasons the best player in the B1G played for Minnesota), with Sarah Wilhite being named the AVCA National Player of the Year and the ESPNW POY in addition to her B1G POY recognition in 2016. In total, the Minnesota program recorded 37 AVCA All-America honors and 60 All-Big Ten honors during McCutcheon's tenure.
In his coaching career, McCutcheon is a three-time hall of fame inductee and has received countless awards. McCutcheon was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2018 and the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame in 2024. He was also inducted into USA Volleyball's Hall of Fame for his service to International volleyball in 2024. During his USA career, McCutcheon was awarded the 2008 USOC Coach of the Year, was a three-time USOC Volleyball Coach of the Year, received the 2013 USA Volleyball All-time great coach award, and the 2016 New Zealand Order of Merit. He will go down as one of the most decorated coaches in volleyball history.
Upon his retirement from coaching in December of 2022, McCutcheon remained within the Gopher athletic department as an assistant athletic director. McCutcheon wrote a book, Championship Behaviors, which became the catalyst for applying these teachings within the athletic department. His principles helped coaches and student-athletes navigate the intricacies of athletic achievement, mental strategies and personal development in order to reach their highest potential. In addition to working with a variety of athletic department coaches and athletes, McCutcheon served as a guest lecturer for the Gophers' Office of Undergraduate Experience class (first-year student-athletes) and met with a number of department stakeholders including sports medicine, athletic academics, and athletic administration.
Since leaving the international coaching profession in 2012, McCutcheon has maintained a longstanding relationship with the FIVB. Named FIVB senior advisor in 2023, McCutcheon has made significant contributions to the development of the sport outside of coaching, both on and off the court. As a senior advisor, McCutcheon attended the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, where he helped oversee the indoor and beach volleyball competitions. In addition to his role as senior advisor, McCutcheon was also the FIVB Technical and Coaching Commission President while he was Minnesota's head volleyball coach.
In November of 2024, McCutcheon was named FIVB's Secretary General, a position synonymous with a CEO role in the business world. He attended the FIVB Women's Thailand), Men's (Philippines) and Beach (Australia) World Championships in 2025, as well as the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano, Italy. McCutcheon will continue to help implement strategies and protocols for FIVB's upcoming signature events, such as the Volleyball Nations League, FIVB World Cup, and FIVB Beach Pro Tour, as well as assist Continental Confederations and National Federations develop their events and national teams. McCutcheon will also work closely with the FIVB's commercial arm, Volleyball World, and prepare for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane.
"It's been an honor and a privilege to work at the University of Minnesota for the last 14 years," McCutcheon said. "While this is not goodbye, I won't be on campus nearly as much. Thank you to Joel Maturi for helping me understand the potential and the opportunity this program presented. Without him, I wouldn't have come here. I'm also extremely grateful and deeply indebted to Mark Coyle for his belief and support during my tenure, especially when I left coaching and moved into administration.
"During my time here, I was able to work with some incredible coaches and I am so grateful to all of them for their hard work and the significant contributions they made to our success. Of course, none of that success is possible without the student athletes. Thank you to all of the Golden Gophers who trusted us enough to let us teach, coach and mentor them. Their effort and commitment transformed this program.
"Lastly, a big thank you to our Gopher volleyball fans and the broader University community. Thanks for making our family feel so welcome here and for making the Pav. the best place in the country to compete. While I'm excited to continue my work with the FIVB, I'll always be grateful to this University and its people."
McCutcheon, hailing from Christchurch, New Zealand, came to Minnesota after a remarkable coaching career with USA Volleyball. During his time with the US national teams, he earned two Olympic medals with the United States Men's (gold) and Women's (silver) teams, making him, to this day, the only USA team-sport coach to medal with both genders. McCutcheon started his international coaching career as an assistant coach with the USA men at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. He was named head coach of the USA men in 2005 and the team finished the quadrennial as 2008 Olympic Champions, FIVB World League Champions, and ranked No. 2 in the world. He started coaching the USA women in 2009 and finished the quadrennial as 2012 Olympic silver medalists, three time FIVB Grand Prix Champions, and ranked No. 1 in the world.
Following his time with USA Volleyball, McCutcheon spent 11 years at the helm of Golden Gopher volleyball. He led the Gophers to three final fours, two Big Ten Championships, in addition to five elite eight and 10 Sweet 16 appearances. Named the 2015 AVCA National Coach of the Year, McCutcheon helped Minnesota continue to evolve as a national volleyball powerhouse. In his 11 seasons he led the Gophers to a 277-74 record. The two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year guided six players to Big Ten Player of the Year honors (in 6 of McCutcheon's 11 seasons the best player in the B1G played for Minnesota), with Sarah Wilhite being named the AVCA National Player of the Year and the ESPNW POY in addition to her B1G POY recognition in 2016. In total, the Minnesota program recorded 37 AVCA All-America honors and 60 All-Big Ten honors during McCutcheon's tenure.
In his coaching career, McCutcheon is a three-time hall of fame inductee and has received countless awards. McCutcheon was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2018 and the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame in 2024. He was also inducted into USA Volleyball's Hall of Fame for his service to International volleyball in 2024. During his USA career, McCutcheon was awarded the 2008 USOC Coach of the Year, was a three-time USOC Volleyball Coach of the Year, received the 2013 USA Volleyball All-time great coach award, and the 2016 New Zealand Order of Merit. He will go down as one of the most decorated coaches in volleyball history.
Upon his retirement from coaching in December of 2022, McCutcheon remained within the Gopher athletic department as an assistant athletic director. McCutcheon wrote a book, Championship Behaviors, which became the catalyst for applying these teachings within the athletic department. His principles helped coaches and student-athletes navigate the intricacies of athletic achievement, mental strategies and personal development in order to reach their highest potential. In addition to working with a variety of athletic department coaches and athletes, McCutcheon served as a guest lecturer for the Gophers' Office of Undergraduate Experience class (first-year student-athletes) and met with a number of department stakeholders including sports medicine, athletic academics, and athletic administration.
Since leaving the international coaching profession in 2012, McCutcheon has maintained a longstanding relationship with the FIVB. Named FIVB senior advisor in 2023, McCutcheon has made significant contributions to the development of the sport outside of coaching, both on and off the court. As a senior advisor, McCutcheon attended the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, where he helped oversee the indoor and beach volleyball competitions. In addition to his role as senior advisor, McCutcheon was also the FIVB Technical and Coaching Commission President while he was Minnesota's head volleyball coach.
In November of 2024, McCutcheon was named FIVB's Secretary General, a position synonymous with a CEO role in the business world. He attended the FIVB Women's Thailand), Men's (Philippines) and Beach (Australia) World Championships in 2025, as well as the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano, Italy. McCutcheon will continue to help implement strategies and protocols for FIVB's upcoming signature events, such as the Volleyball Nations League, FIVB World Cup, and FIVB Beach Pro Tour, as well as assist Continental Confederations and National Federations develop their events and national teams. McCutcheon will also work closely with the FIVB's commercial arm, Volleyball World, and prepare for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane.
Monday, April 27
Tuesday, January 27
Monday, December 22
Tuesday, December 09