Set and spike

Christchurch-born Hugh McCutcheon has been on a rollercoaster ride since taking over as the United States men's volleyball coach three years ago.

In the lead up to next year's Bejing Olympics McCutcheon had a dream start in 2005, where he led the US team to a 27-6 winning record, but the world No. 5 team stumbled at the 2006 world championships, finishing 10th.

The American volleyball administration has stuck with McCutcheon, who originally moved to America in 1990 to further his playing career at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah.

The former Shirley Boys' High School, Canterbury and New Zealand volleyball representative said he was hurt by the world championships' result, but the team has bounced back well, registering podium finishes in four major events this year.

"At the world champs we had some issues with injuries and some other team dynamics issues that we've since addressed."

After its fourth place finish at the Athens Olympics in 2004, the US men's team has its sights firmly set on claiming a medal in Bejing.

"It's the ultimate. The goal of our programme is to get on the podium in Beijing."

Olympic host China is the only team guaranteed a place in the 12 team tournament in Bejing, with the rest having to qualify.

Qualifying begins next month at the FIVB world cup in Japan, where teams will play 11 matches in 14 days with the top three teams cementing Olympic births.

McCutcheon considers Brazil and Russia as gold medal favourites for the Olympics.

Part of his team's build-up to the Olympics has involved consultations with the New Zealand netball team and swapping of success formulas.

After the US missed out on a medal in Athens, McCutcheon was instrumental in making changes to the organisation. At the beginning of last year, the organisation moved its headquarters from Colorado to southern California.

"We had to get out of the altitude in Colorado ... it really influenced the trajectory of the volleyball, especially in serving and passing. Our guys serve around 115 to 125 km/h, so when the ball's moving at that speed at a high altitude it travels in a different path than at sea level because of the humidity."

The move also allowed greater access to players.

"Most of our athletes have either played volleyball there in college or they are from that area. It's a community there that really supports volleyball. It just seemed to be a good fit."

The college volleyball system in America is a great provider of talent for the national team, but McCutcheon has to work around NCAA rules which limits the amount of time college players can play and train with his team.

Members of the US team play professionally in a national club competition.

After completing a physical education degree in 1993, McCutcheon played professional volleyball in Finland and Japan for two years, before returning to America to gain a masters degree in exercise science.

It was during his second stint at BYU that McCutcheon made the step into coaching, taking the job as assistant coach at the college.

"After a couple years of coaching I was really enjoying it and decided to make it my primary emphasis."

At 38, McCutcheon is one of the youngest coaches on the international circuit, but he sees it as a real advantage when it comes to relating to his players.

"I think a lot of it is the ability to relate to your athletes and if you are too far removed from where they are, I think it's hard to get that connection."

In his time at BYU, McCutcheon was coached by and later coached alongside Carl McGowan, who McCutcheon credits as his greatest coaching influence and labels him a pioneer in his techniques of teaching the game.

The other major influence on his coaching career was the man he replaced as US coach, Doug Beal. McCutcheon started as Beal's assistant in 2003, learning the trade of team management from the Olympic gold medal winning coach.

McCutcheon's life has also taken shape off the court. In December last year he married US women's volleyball player Elisabeth Bachman McCutcheon.

Coaching remains McCutcheon's focus in the build up to Beijing, but he has personal goals to achieve outside volleyball and would like to start a family. He is likely to remain in America, but is eager to fit in regular trips to New Zealand with his wife.

When it comes to comparing a New Zealand athlete's development to that of an American-based athlete, McCutcheon feels American athletes have the extra pressure on their shoulders of always being pushed to be the best.

"One of the big cultural differences is the emphasis on winning.

"It's a lot about results in the states, not that it isn't here, but New Zealand has a more collaborative team-oriented approach, especially in team sports."

McCutcheon still has a passion for New Zealand sports and is back in Christchurch this week to attend and speak at the Academy of Sport South Island's annual leaders, coaches and sports provider forum.

- © Fairfax NZ News