Post by cyberVBmidwest on Apr 5, 2007 21:09:07 GMT -5
ANAHEIM, Calif. (April 5, 2007) - USA Volleyball has announced that John Speraw, head coach of UC Irvine's men's volleyball team, will also serve as an assistant coach for the U.S. Men's Volleyball Team, based at the American Sports Center in Anaheim, Calif.
Speraw will continue to coach the Anteaters, ranked No. 2 in the country in this week's CSTV/AVCA Division I-II Men's Top 15 Coaches Poll, for the rest of the season before joining the U.S. Men this summer. Speraw's assistant coaches at Irvine will help with recruiting and other duties this summer before Speraw returns in the winter.
"Obviously, I'm pretty excited," Speraw said. "I will learn so much from (U.S. Men's Team Head Coach) Hugh McCutcheon and (U.S. Men's Team Assistant Coach) Ron Larsen and seeing that high level of volleyball."
Speraw has gained international experience as head coach of the 2005 U.S. Men's Junior National Team, which won a silver medal at the NORCECA Junior Men's Continental Volleyball Championship in 2005. He served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Boys' Youth National teams in 1998 and 2001, for the men's teams at the World University Games team in 1997 and 1999 and for the men's Pan American Games team in 1999.
"John and I have worked together in past on number of occasions. I think he's a very good coach and a guy that can really add some value to our program," McCutcheon said. "His background as a player is at middle blocker. I'd like him keep him involved with blocking and defense. However he will be involved with all aspects of the team."
Speraw is in his fifth season with Irvine. He was named 2006 AVCA National Coach of the Year as well as Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and Volleyball Magazine Coach of the Year following UC Irvine's most successful season in school history.
UC Irvine rewrote its men's volleyball record book in 2006 starting with a school-best 27-5 record (.844), a win total that was the most among all NCAA Division I-II schools a year ago. The Anteaters claimed their first-ever Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title, finishing with a 20-2 league record.
This year, the Anteaters are 22-4 on the season and 15-4 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation heading into a Friday match against UCLA.
Prior to UCI, Speraw served in various roles with the UCLA volleyball program for 12 years. He played middle blocker for the Bruins from 1990-95 and was a member of two national championship teams. He was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team in 1995 when he had 11 kills and eight blocks in the championship victory over Penn State. Speraw became a volunteer assistant coach with the Bruins before assuming a full-time assistant's position in 1998.
He graduated from UCLA in 1995 with a bachelor of science degree in microbiology and molecular genetics.
www.usavolleyball.org/VolleyballNews/news.asp?id=1544
Speraw will continue to coach the Anteaters, ranked No. 2 in the country in this week's CSTV/AVCA Division I-II Men's Top 15 Coaches Poll, for the rest of the season before joining the U.S. Men this summer. Speraw's assistant coaches at Irvine will help with recruiting and other duties this summer before Speraw returns in the winter.
"Obviously, I'm pretty excited," Speraw said. "I will learn so much from (U.S. Men's Team Head Coach) Hugh McCutcheon and (U.S. Men's Team Assistant Coach) Ron Larsen and seeing that high level of volleyball."
Speraw has gained international experience as head coach of the 2005 U.S. Men's Junior National Team, which won a silver medal at the NORCECA Junior Men's Continental Volleyball Championship in 2005. He served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Boys' Youth National teams in 1998 and 2001, for the men's teams at the World University Games team in 1997 and 1999 and for the men's Pan American Games team in 1999.
"John and I have worked together in past on number of occasions. I think he's a very good coach and a guy that can really add some value to our program," McCutcheon said. "His background as a player is at middle blocker. I'd like him keep him involved with blocking and defense. However he will be involved with all aspects of the team."
Speraw is in his fifth season with Irvine. He was named 2006 AVCA National Coach of the Year as well as Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and Volleyball Magazine Coach of the Year following UC Irvine's most successful season in school history.
UC Irvine rewrote its men's volleyball record book in 2006 starting with a school-best 27-5 record (.844), a win total that was the most among all NCAA Division I-II schools a year ago. The Anteaters claimed their first-ever Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title, finishing with a 20-2 league record.
This year, the Anteaters are 22-4 on the season and 15-4 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation heading into a Friday match against UCLA.
Prior to UCI, Speraw served in various roles with the UCLA volleyball program for 12 years. He played middle blocker for the Bruins from 1990-95 and was a member of two national championship teams. He was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team in 1995 when he had 11 kills and eight blocks in the championship victory over Penn State. Speraw became a volunteer assistant coach with the Bruins before assuming a full-time assistant's position in 1998.
He graduated from UCLA in 1995 with a bachelor of science degree in microbiology and molecular genetics.
www.usavolleyball.org/VolleyballNews/news.asp?id=1544
