Candidates for US Men's Team Coach Replacement?

[cyberVBmidwest]

If the US decided to make a change to the head coaching position, whose name would you like to see thrown into consideration?

[vb]

Pavlik PSU
Speraw UCI
Sullivan Springfield

in that order

[doctordubya]

Philippe Blain (French coach)
Arie Selinger, or his son Avital

Got to be someone outside the US. Everyone with any sort of rep in the US (except Al Scates) has had a crack already, haven't they?

[sonofbarcelonabob]

I think BigAl's window of opportunity w/the National Team is pretty narrow nowadays. I don't believe he would uproot and move to Colorado. I think he's enjoying his retirement and golfing, while doing the UCLA gig part-time.

On the international scene, I like doctordubya's picks, and I would add a couple:

-Julio Velasco from Italy
-Juan Alonso from Spain
-Seiji Oko from Japan
-Joop Alberta from the Netherlands

I like Sellinger as the men's coach. His reputation for building programs is unparalleled in the past 20 years. Although if you hire Arie or his son Avatal, the coaching contract would have to include a clause which states a step-ladder will be provided to them at all times for them to stand on. Hehe.

Anyone remember the 1992 Men's Gold Medal match? Watching Negrao, Tande, and Gavio hit right over top of Sellinger (the younger) over and over and over and over again....

[midwestfan]

I vote for SoBB! He/She seems to have all the answers!

[Word]

I wouldn't mind seeing Marv Dunphy being head coach again.

[sonofbarcelonabob]

midwestfan said:

I vote for SoBB! He/She seems to have all the answers!

I wouldn't be able to afford the pay cut.

[doctordubya]

I wonder if USAV could afford someone with a rep like Velasco - he is currently coaching Piacenza in Serie A1, IIRC (they were runners-up this year).

I like what Philippe Blain has done with France. He realised that he didn't have the personnel to win in an out-and-out slugging match with the big guns of world volleyball (Brazil, Russia, Serbia). So, rather than just shuffling the rosters every now and then and banging his head against a brick wall using the same system as everyone else (the name Douglas Beal springs to mind), Blain has decided to work on other aspects of his team's game, notably ball control and defence.

The result has been the most successful period in the history of French volleyball. In terms of raw talent, France are certainly no stronger than the USA, but they are a much better team. Moreover, France are a terrific side to watch - they pass well, play great defence, and have frankly incredible hitter coverage. The result is (gasp) lots of rallies.

I think either of the Selingers would be able to do something similar.

How about a Russian? Platonov was probably the best coach the USSR ever had. He is currently coaching St Petersburg in the Russian top division, and they play a style of volleyball quite different to the ubiquitous 4-1-5 or 4-1-D system. He has the libero enter only when his side are serving; in reception his side run a complex combination offence featuring crosses, stings etc... would shake things up.

[DaRookie]

I hear Dave Deuser may be available. ;D

[sonofbarcelonabob]

doctordubya said:

I wonder if USAV could afford someone with a rep like Velasco - he is currently coaching Piacenza in Serie A1, IIRC (they were runners-up this year).

I like what Philippe Blain has done with France. He realised that he didn't have the personnel to win in an out-and-out slugging match with the big guns of world volleyball (Brazil, Russia, Serbia). So, rather than just shuffling the rosters every now and then and banging his head against a brick wall using the same system as everyone else (the name Douglas Beal springs to mind), Blain has decided to work on other aspects of his team's game, notably ball control and defence.

The result has been the most successful period in the history of French volleyball. In terms of raw talent, France are certainly no stronger than the USA, but they are a much better team. Moreover, France are a terrific side to watch - they pass well, play great defence, and have frankly incredible hitter coverage. The result is (gasp) lots of rallies.

I think either of the Selingers would be able to do something similar.

How about a Russian? Platonov was probably the best coach the USSR ever had. He is currently coaching St Petersburg in the Russian top division, and they play a style of volleyball quite different to the ubiquitous 4-1-5 or 4-1-D system. He has the libero enter only when his side are serving; in reception his side run a complex combination offence featuring crosses, stings etc... would shake things up.

That is quite interesting how Blain has been able to emphasize those aspects of the game and get the most out of the French side. Seems that ball control and defense were the same qualities that Team USA excelled in under both Beal and Dunphy during their "glory days". I guess in the zeal to "catch up" to the rest of the world, they abandoned that and tried to play exactly like the big boys on the international scene play, instead of trying to figure out what their best core competencies might be given the personnel coming to them out of college.

I agree Platanov would also be a good choice, my only reservation is that he is too much like Beal (dull, drab, dry, no personality) and how he would fit in with the typical psyche and personality of a player on Team USA.

[VBbeast]

I'm thinking there is a good chance we will see a coaching change following the end of this quadrenium.

who would I like to see? Something new and different. Without knocking the abilities of the previous few USA coaches I think we are in a period of stagnation with the national program. It would be nice to see a departure from the "old boys" network that has been running things for the past 20 years.

I think there are some good volleyball minds in the country that would make good candidates, but if the best way to insert some new ideas and concepts is to go with an international coach I would support that too.

In reference to Scates yeah I think he has the ability to handle the job, but I'd prefer to see someone who will work at it full time with his assistants as opposed to stopping in occasionally from the golf course to look in on his assistants who are actually running things.

[doctordubya]

SonofBarcelonaBob said:

I guess in the zeal to "catch up" to the rest of the world, they abandoned that and tried to play exactly like the big boys on the international scene play, instead of trying to figure out what their best core competencies might be given the personnel coming to them out of college.

Agreed. The reason the USA men suddenly started winning things in 1984 was because they were using a new system that optimised the abilities of their key players. Doug Beal has done the exact opposite since taking the reins in 1997, which just makes you wonder...

You only have to look at the 2000 team. Main outside hitters were Lambert, Hyden, Landry - all three played opposite in college. Square pegs in round holes.

SonofBarcelonaBob said:

I agree Platanov would also be a good choice, my only reservation is that he is too much like Beal (dull, drab, dry, no personality) and how he would fit in with the typical psyche and personality of a player on Team USA.

Platonov is quite a good guy (a friend of mine knows him personally). Sure, he isn't Mr Personality, but he has a lot of friends, as well as respect, among the volleyball elite.

One point where I think he does differ from Beal - he has one hell of a temper. If his team are not performing, they are going to have their ears bent back. I think some of the guys on USA men's teams of current and recent memory might have benefitted from a coach willing to kick their butts...

One thing about Platonov, though - he must be one of the ugliest people in the world.