Former USA men’s national team libero Erik Sullivan was picked to replace the legendary Karch Kiraly at the helm of the country’s women’s national team, USA Volleyball announced on Monday.
The position was available since October, when Kiraly departed from the women’s team after 15 years to coach the men, and the American national federation decided to give the 52-year-old Sullivan his first opportunity to coach at the international level.
“With the national team season set to begin in less than six months, we knew we had to move quickly but thoughtfully,” said John Speraw, President and CEO of USA Volleyball. “It was critical that we made the right decision, but we also had to act expeditiously to give the new coach enough time to get to know the team, develop a game plan, and integrate seamlessly into the program. The role of national team head coach is unlike any other coaching position. It’s not about recruiting or fundraising—it’s about elite-level strategy, understanding the nuances of international competition, and managing a high-performance environment. We needed someone who could hit the ground running and bring that specific expertise, and Erik was the clear choice.”
