Karch Kiraly

Karch Kiraly's journey in the world of volleyball began in earnest when he joined the United States national volleyball team in 1981. As an outside hitter, he played a key role in the innovative "two-man" serve reception system created by Doug Beal in 1983. This innovation and Kiraly's skill played a significant part in the U.S National Team securing a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics. His prowess didn't stop there; Kiraly led the U.S. National Team to victory in the FIVB World Cup in 1985 and the FIVB World Championship in 1986. The 1988 Summer Olympics saw Kiraly clinching his second Olympic gold medal, defeating the USSR in the championship match. Following this, he retired from the national team and ventured into professional volleyball in Italy.

Kiraly's foray into beach volleyball was equally successful, with him winning 148 career tournaments and earning a reputation as the winningest player in the sport's history. He even bagged a gold medal in men's beach volleyball at the 1996 Olympics alongside his partner Kent Steffes. Not only did Kiraly showcase his abilities on the court, but he also shared his insights off it, working as a broadcaster for ESPN and providing color commentary for the AVP on NBC broadcasts. His experience and knowledge of the sport were further utilized when he coached the U.S. National Women's Volleyball team to a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics as an assistant coach.

In 2012, Kiraly assumed the role of head coach for the U.S. National Women's Volleyball team, leading them to a gold medal at the FIVB World Championship in 2012. His coaching expertise also guided the U.S. women to a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics and a gold medal at the 2020 Olympics. Apart from his contributions on the court and from the sidelines, Kiraly has authored three books: "Karch Kiraly's Championship Volleyball," "Beach Volleyball," and "Chasing Greatness."