Karch Kiraly is widely regarded as the greatest volleyball player of all time, with an illustrious career spanning indoor and beach volleyball. During his college years at UCLA, Kiraly was a four-time All-American, leading the Bruins to an impressive 123-5 record and securing three NCAA national championships.
Although he initially pursued a career in medicine, Kiraly transitioned to professional volleyball and joined the U.S. national team. His exceptional talent led the team to gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
Kiraly then excelled in beach volleyball, where he became a dominant force.
The international volleyball federation, FIVB, recognized him twice as the best player in the world and later honored him as the best volleyball player of the 20th century. Partnering with Kent Steffes, Kiraly won the inaugural beach volleyball gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
Bill Neville, an assistant coach on the 1984 U.S. Olympic Men’s Team, aptly describes Kiraly by stating, “He defines volleyball.” Kiraly’s professional career continued until 2007, but his achievements did not stop there.
After retiring from playing, he took on the role of head coach for the U.S. Women’s Volleyball Team in 2012, leading them to a world championship in 2014 and a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
Reflecting on his career, Kiraly expressed his gratitude, saying, “It’s been an absolute blast. I played a kid’s game, I got to do it at the beach, and I was able to support my family. I consider myself incredibly lucky.”