Volleyball: McCutcheon relishing job in US

His appointment has been likened to the New Zealand Rugby Union hiring a Romanian to coach the All Blacks or new All Whites soccer coach Ricki Herbert heading to England to ply his trade.

But to Hugh McCutcheon, it's just a job.

McCutcheon, 35, has been selected as new head coach of the United States men's national indoor volleyball team -- one of the most sought after and high-profile coaching jobs in a global sport played by 34 million people.

Originally from Christchurch, McCutcheon has been in Tauranga this week conducting a coaching clinic.

The United States are two-time Olympic gold medallists who finished fourth in Athens last year, and McCutcheon has inherited a group of players rated a strong chance of winning gold in Beijing in 2008.

"My immediate goal's trying to qualify the team for the world championships next year," he said.

"While we want to do well in the non-Olympic years to try and develop a culture of success, the focus is definitely on Olympic gold."

McCutcheon went to Utah's Brigham Young University 15 years ago on a playing scholarship before playing professionally in Europe and Japan.

He returned to Brigham Young as a graduate student and assistant coach where he helped guide the college to two National Collegiate Athletic Association men's championships.

He is the first non-American hired to coach the national men's team but yesterday said he did not feel like he was a foreign appointment.

"It's not something I think a lot about, to be honest; I'm a New Zealander and New Zealand's my home but I've functioned for so long in US society that it's not an issue."

Not that there isn't pressure on McCutcheon to lead the revival of US men's volleyball, which is slowly rebuilding from a disastrous 11th at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

"There's a big weight of expectation there, for sure. You wouldn't have it any other way when you're striving to become the best team in the world.

"I could completely suck and be out of work, but I'm confident in the guys we've got and the programmes we've put in place."

With a six-figure salary, a group of assistants and auxiliary support and the best technical and medical support money can buy, McCutcheon lacks little in his quest for Olympic glory.

He applied, unsuccessfully, for the chief executive's job at Volleyball New Zealand last year but hasn't forgotten his roots, giving back to his sport whenever he's in this country.

McCutcheon said the US college scholarship programme still offered young New Zealanders a viable pathway to the top, although it was becoming increasingly difficult for talented male players to gain a foothold.

"It's still a good stepping stone and one I'd recommend, especially for female players -- there's 3000 plus women's college teams in the States and most have provision for 12 scholarships.

"It's harder for the guys. Only 80 teams are giving scholarships and if they're giving money then they're making sure they're giving it to the very best kids."

- NZPA