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Karch Kiraly Named U.S. Women's Volleyball Team Head Coach

Volleyball legend and UCLA graduate Karch Kiraly has been named the U.S. women's national team coach for the 2016 games in Rio.

By Kevin Zimmerman
Getty Images

Former gold medal volleyball player and UCLA Bruins legend Karch Kiraly was named the U.S. women's national team head coach for the 2016 Rio games. The announce was made at a press conference this morning in Anaheim, Calif., the training site of the women's national team.

Kiraly is the only volleyball player to win both a beach and indoor gold medal in Olympic play. The UCLA graduate from Santa Barbara High School won his indoor medals in 1984 and 1988, then earned himself the honor on the beach in 1996.

He takes over for Hugh McCutcheon, who led the women's team to a silver medal in the 2012 London Games. McCutcheon has taken over as head coach at Minnesota after also coaching the 2008 men's team to a silver medal in the Beijing games.

Kiraly, now 51 years old, acted as McCutcheon's assistant coach during the London games.

Check out Bruins Nation for more on the UCLA Bruins.