Hugh McCutcheon
Encyclopedia
Hugh McCutcheon a native of Christchurch
, New Zealand, is the former head coach of the US men's national volleyball team, the current head coach of the US women's national volleyball team, and the announced head coach of the University of Minnesota's women's volleyball team.
McCutcheon was a New Zealand
national team volleyball player. He played on the New Zealand junior and senior national teams from 1988-90 before coming to the United States
and lettered in volleyball and field hockey
at Shirley Boys' High School
. He was also a member of New Zealand’s national team in 1996 and represented his country on the FIVB Beach Volleyball
World Tour in 1997.
from 1991-1993 after transferring from the University of Canterbury
in New Zealand
.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in physical education
from BYU in 1993, McCutcheon played professionally for two years in Finland
and Japan
before returning to BYU to complete his master’s degree in exercise science in 1998. In 1999, McCutcheon received an MBA from BYU’s Marriott School of Management
.
from 1995-2001. During that time, the Cougars posted a record of 138-44 and captured two NCAA men’s volleyball championships (1999 and 2001).
After leaving BYU, McCutcheon was the head coach of the Vienna Hotvolleys in Austria
for two seasons. In his first season there, the Hotvolleys won the 2001-02 Inter-Liga, Austrian Cup and Austrian League championships, and he had the opportunity to work with USA national team players Rich Lambourne, Dave McKienzie, Adam Naeve, Reid Priddy and Brandon Taliaferro. He also coached the first Austrian team to ever beat an Italian A1 opponent.
McCutcheon also served as a volunteer assistant coach for the men’s national team, helping out during the 2001 Volleyball World League
, the 2002 World Championships and on five international tours. He has also served as the head coach of the USA Boys Youth National Team in 2000 and 2001. He joined USA Volleyball
as a full-time assistant coach for the men’s national team program in April 2003.
On 3 February 2005, USA Volleyball introduced McCutcheon as the new head coach of the USA men’s national volleyball team. He took over the position from long-time head coach Doug Beal
, who resigned to become the new Chief Executive Officer
of USA Volleyball.
On 15 December 2008, it was announced that McCutcheon accepted the head coach position of the U.S. Women's National Team for the 2009-2012 Olympic quadrennial.
On 10 February 2011, McCutcheon was named head coach of the University of Minnesota's volleyball team. He will join the Gophers at an unspecified date after fulfilling his obligations with the National Team.
, gold medals at the America's Cup in Brazil
, the FIVB World Championship Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico
and the NORCECA Continental Championship
in Canada
and another silver medal at the FIVB World Grand Champions Cup in Japan
.
The squad posted wins over the 2004 Olympic
gold and silver medalists during the year (Brazil
and Italy
, respectively), registered the highest winning percentage of any men’s national team since 1988 (.818) and recorded the most wins by a men’s team since 2000 (27). The Americans finished the year by winning 18 of their last 19 matches, including 14-straight at one point and ranked fifth in the world.
In 2008, the US men's national team led by McCutcheon won the Volleyball World League
. He led the USA men's volleyball team to the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
for the first time since 1988, defeating gold-medal favorite Brazil in four sets. This is the third gold medal overall for the men's volleyball team with the first being won in 1984.
, were attacked at Drum Tower
. His father-in-law Todd Bachman was killed and his mother-in-law Barbara Bachman was seriously injured. McCutcheon was away from the team for 3 matches during the tournament, before returning to lead the team to the gold medal. See also: 2008 Beijing Drum Tower incident.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand, is the former head coach of the US men's national volleyball team, the current head coach of the US women's national volleyball team, and the announced head coach of the University of Minnesota's women's volleyball team.
McCutcheon was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
national team volleyball player. He played on the New Zealand junior and senior national teams from 1988-90 before coming to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and lettered in volleyball and field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
at Shirley Boys' High School
Shirley Boys' High School
Shirley Boys' High School is a single sex state secondary school in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is situated on a 6 hectare site in the suburb of Shirley, 3.8 kilometres from the city centre...
. He was also a member of New Zealand’s national team in 1996 and represented his country on the FIVB Beach Volleyball
Beach volleyball
Beach volleyball, or sand volleyball, is an Olympic team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net.Like volleyball, the object of the game is to send the ball over the net in order to ground it on the opponent’s court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent....
World Tour in 1997.
College
McCutcheon played for Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
from 1991-1993 after transferring from the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
- 1991 - Played in 40 games, had 87 kills while averaging 2.2 per game, had 47 digs and 39 total blocks, added six assists and three aces.
- 1992 - Earned Academic All-Conference honors from the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Played in 72 games ... was third on the team in kills with 218 while averaging 3.0 per game, hit .312 on the season, placed fourth on the team in digs with 113, added 48 blocks and 17 aces, had 19 kills and hit .485 in a three game match against UC Santa BarbaraUniversity of California, Santa BarbaraThe University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
and had a season high 21 kills against Ball StateBall State UniversityBall State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
. - 1993 - Earned honorable mention All-America honors as a senior. Led the Cougars in kills with 476 and was 13th in the nation with a 5.53 per game average, hit .337 on the season, was third on the team with 130 digs and 107 blocks and had 28 assists and 19 aces. Had 39 kills in a match against the University of Hawaii.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
from BYU in 1993, McCutcheon played professionally for two years in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
before returning to BYU to complete his master’s degree in exercise science in 1998. In 1999, McCutcheon received an MBA from BYU’s Marriott School of Management
Marriott School of Management
The Marriott School of Management is a business school located in Provo, Utah at Brigham Young University , a private university in the United States owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
.
Coaching history
McCutcheon was the top assistant coach and recruiter under head coach Carl McGown for BYUBrigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
from 1995-2001. During that time, the Cougars posted a record of 138-44 and captured two NCAA men’s volleyball championships (1999 and 2001).
After leaving BYU, McCutcheon was the head coach of the Vienna Hotvolleys in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
for two seasons. In his first season there, the Hotvolleys won the 2001-02 Inter-Liga, Austrian Cup and Austrian League championships, and he had the opportunity to work with USA national team players Rich Lambourne, Dave McKienzie, Adam Naeve, Reid Priddy and Brandon Taliaferro. He also coached the first Austrian team to ever beat an Italian A1 opponent.
McCutcheon also served as a volunteer assistant coach for the men’s national team, helping out during the 2001 Volleyball World League
Volleyball World League
The FIVB World League is an international men's volleyball competition. Created in 1990, it is the longest and richest of all the international events organized by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball . The tournament is annual. The women's version of the competition is called FIVB World...
, the 2002 World Championships and on five international tours. He has also served as the head coach of the USA Boys Youth National Team in 2000 and 2001. He joined USA Volleyball
USA Volleyball
USA Volleyball is a non-profit organization which serves as the national governing body of volleyball in the United States of America ....
as a full-time assistant coach for the men’s national team program in April 2003.
On 3 February 2005, USA Volleyball introduced McCutcheon as the new head coach of the USA men’s national volleyball team. He took over the position from long-time head coach Doug Beal
Doug Beal
Doug Beal is an American volleyball player and coach, the current USA Volleyball CEO, and a member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.- Education :...
, who resigned to become the new Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of USA Volleyball.
On 15 December 2008, it was announced that McCutcheon accepted the head coach position of the U.S. Women's National Team for the 2009-2012 Olympic quadrennial.
On 10 February 2011, McCutcheon was named head coach of the University of Minnesota's volleyball team. He will join the Gophers at an unspecified date after fulfilling his obligations with the National Team.
US Men's National Team head coach
The team went 27-6 in McCutcheon's first year as head coach and won five medals in five tournaments. They earned a silver medal at the USOC International Sports Invitational in San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, gold medals at the America's Cup in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, the FIVB World Championship Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and the NORCECA Continental Championship
NORCECA Volleyball Championship
The NORCECA Volleyball Championship is a sport competition for national volleyball teams, currently held biannually and organized by the NORCECA, the North America, Central America and Caribbean volleyball federation...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and another silver medal at the FIVB World Grand Champions Cup in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
The squad posted wins over the 2004 Olympic
Volleyball at the 2004 Summer Olympics
thumb|right|Indoorthumb|right|BeachVolleyball at the 2004 Summer Olympics consisted of indoor volleyball held at the Peace and Friendship Stadium and beach volleyball held at the Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre, in the southern portion of the Roth Pavilion; both were located at the Faliro Coastal...
gold and silver medalists during the year (Brazil
Brazil men's national volleyball team
The Brazil men's national volleyball team is the national team of Brazil. It is governed by the Confederação Brasileira de Voleibol and takes part in international volleyball competitions...
and Italy
Italy men's national volleyball team
The Italy men's national volleyball team is the volleyball national team of Italy. It dominated international volleyball competitions in the 1990s and early 2000s, by winning three World Championships in a row , six European Championships, one World Cup and eight World League The Italy men's...
, respectively), registered the highest winning percentage of any men’s national team since 1988 (.818) and recorded the most wins by a men’s team since 2000 (27). The Americans finished the year by winning 18 of their last 19 matches, including 14-straight at one point and ranked fifth in the world.
In 2008, the US men's national team led by McCutcheon won the Volleyball World League
Volleyball World League
The FIVB World League is an international men's volleyball competition. Created in 1990, it is the longest and richest of all the international events organized by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball . The tournament is annual. The women's version of the competition is called FIVB World...
. He led the USA men's volleyball team to the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
for the first time since 1988, defeating gold-medal favorite Brazil in four sets. This is the third gold medal overall for the men's volleyball team with the first being won in 1984.
Personal life
On 9 August 2008, during the opening day of the 2008 Beijing Olympic events, the parents of McCutcheon's wife, former Olympian Elisabeth BachmanElisabeth Bachman
Elisabeth Bachman is a retired volleyball player from the United States, who represented her native country at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece...
, were attacked at Drum Tower
Drum Tower
The term Drum tower is used to refer to a tower in the center of an old Chinese city, housing signal drums. There was usually also a Bell tower nearby...
. His father-in-law Todd Bachman was killed and his mother-in-law Barbara Bachman was seriously injured. McCutcheon was away from the team for 3 matches during the tournament, before returning to lead the team to the gold medal. See also: 2008 Beijing Drum Tower incident.
Individual awards
- 2007 NORCECA Men's Championship "Best Coach"
- 2011 NORCECA Women's Championship "Eugenio Laffita Award"
External links
- Hugh McCutcheon - Profile at the Beach Volleyball DatabaseBeach Volleyball DatabaseThe Beach Volleyball Database is an online website that holds extensive information about international beach volleyball players, tournaments and history. News are frequently updated, and the site has results for continental and international tournaments...