February 19th, 2013
First Look at Sato!
Gary Sato at the press conference held earlier today in Tokyo, Japan.
“It’s a great honour.
I have tremendous respect for Japanese culture and Japanese volleyball. There is lots of work to be done in the short period of time and I look forward to getting into the task.
I think the Japanese players have a lot of technical skills and abilities. I think there are some areas where they can improve and I would like to spend some time with them to see their strengths are and weaknesses.”
February 18th, 2013
It all started as a rumor & now it’s OFFICIAL!
JVA or Japanese Volleyball Federation has officially announced that they have hired Gary Sato, former assistant coach of the USA Men’s National Team, to coach their men’s squad in the new Olympic cycle.
Coach Sato’s main mission is to take Japan to the 2016 Olympics which his predecessor, Coachh Ueta, failed to do for the 2012 London Games.
“A fundamental change was in order after the departure of Ueta. We have to forget the glory of the past and start over fresh. I think that a foreigner who can look at Japan in an objective way will be able to courageously execute a new strategy.” says Japan Volleyball Association president Taizaburo Nakano.
The 58 year old Sato, whose children are very much involved in volleyball, is the first foreign coach ever hired by the JVA for their national teams, men or women.
Gary’s official presentation to the media will be this Tuesday.
Congrats Mr. Grow The Game!
Coach Sato Profile
From TeamUSA.org:
Sato first served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s Team from 1984-88, including the team that won the 1988 Olympic gold medal in Seoul. He was also an assistant for the teams that won the 1986 World Championship and the 1987 Pan American Games. Sato served as head coach for the U.S. Men’s gold-medal win at the 1985 FIVB World Cup in Japan and was voted the Most Valuable Coach of the tournament. In 1992 he returned as assistant coach for the Olympic Team that won the bronze medal. Sato’s coaching career has included pro beach championships and he was the head coach for the U.S. beach team at the 2007 Pan American Games.
Sato played volleyball at Santa Monica High School and Santa Monica College before moving on to UC Santa Barbara, where he was an All-American outside hitter.
Sato is the eldest of six children known worldwide for their contributions to the sport. Brother Eric won the Olympic gold medal with the U.S. Men in 1988 and a bronze in 1992. Sister Liane won the Olympic bronze medal with the U.S. Women in 1992 and also played on the ’88 Olympic team. Brothers Scott (San Diego State) and Glenn (Loyola Marymount) both played college volleyball and Glenn also coached.
Sato has three children: Andrew, Katie and Malia.
(source: japantimes.co.jp/ images: Suzie Houseworth)