The American Volleyball Coaches Association is pleased to announce its 2024 Hall of Fame class: Barry Goldberg, Kathy Gregory, Hugh McCutcheon, and Joe Sagula.
These four legendary volleyball coaches, who have made significant contributions to the sport across their careers, bring the number of members of the AVCA Hall of Fame to 101. This year’s induction ceremony will take place Thursday, Dec. 19, during the 2024 AVCA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.
BARRY GOLDBERG
It is hard to imagine the late Goldberg could have known the immeasurable impact his decision in 1989 to accept the women’s volleyball coaching job at American University would have on not only his life, but also the lives of so many others.
Goldberg spent 34 years building the Eagle program and setting records. He earned 10 Coach of the Year honors and guided American to 16 Patriot League titles. His teams made 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, including advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2013, and the Eagles are the only Patriot League team to win an NCAA tournament match. During his final season on the sidelines, he earned his 800th career coaching victory.
“Barry Goldberg is an essential part of the growth and history of our sport,” said Shaun Kupferberg, Howard University women’s volleyball coach. “He was a catalyst who helped bring the game to an underserved area, and he provided a road map for smaller collegiate programs to compete with more established universities; all of that while remaining humble and always giving back to the volleyball community.”
His commitment to the sport extended beyond his coaching at American University. He was the director of the Washington, D.C.-based Metro American Volleyball Club for 15 years, and he and his wife started the Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic, a highly successful tournament that’s been held annually since 2007.
Goldberg passed away in March of 2023 at age 61 after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer a year earlier.
KATHY GREGORY
There are very few things Kathy Gregory hasn’t done in her illustrious volleyball career. And, driving her efforts every step of the way, has been her determination to make things better in the sport she loves.
“Kathy Gregory is an icon in our sport,” said Heather Olmstead, women’s volleyball coach at BYU. “She has dedicated her life to growing the game of women’s volleyball, and throughout her career, she has mentored hundreds of young women as well as many more current and former coaches. From the beaches of Santa Barbara to the gym of UCSB, her love for the game has been impossible to miss.”
Following Gregory’s successful years as a player, which included representing the U.S. at international competitions and her becoming a renowned beach volleyball player, she was tabbed as the head women’s volleyball coach at UC Santa Barbara in 1974. She led the school from those early days of Title IX through the 2013 season, when she retired.
Along the way, she transformed the Gauchos into a national contender. Her teams were regularly ranked in the AVCA polls and fixtures in NCAA postseason play, making 27 NCAA championships and three Elite Eight appearances. The 1993 AVCA Division I Coach of the Year recorded 882 career victories at UC Santa Barbara and earned Big West Conference Coach of the Year honors seven times.
HUGH McCUTCHEON
McCutcheon has cast a large presence over the volleyball community at the international and U.S. collegiate levels. The New Zealand native picked up the game early, playing on his country’s junior and senior national teams from 1986-90 before coming to the United States.
He spent eight years with USA Volleyball, becoming the only coach to guide both the U.S. men’s and women’s indoor volleyball teams to Olympic medals. He led the men’s team from 2005-08, which culminated in the team taking gold in Beijing in 2008. As the women’s coach the following four years, he helped the national team earn a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics.
McCutcheon turned his attention to the college game when he took over the University of Minnesota volleyball program after the London Olympics. Across his 11 seasons, he helped the Gophers become a perennial powerhouse. The 2015 AVCA Division I Coach of the Year led Minnesota to the NCAA semifinals three times, to two Big Ten championships, to 10 NCAA Sweet 16 appearances, and to five Elite Eight appearances.
“I cannot think of too many coaches in our sport’s history who are more accomplished and impactful that Hugh McCutcheon,” said former USA Volleyball CEO Doug Beal. “I was privileged to work with Hugh, as well as to supervise him in several capacities, and he is an exemplary teacher/coach who is committed to volleyball’s growth at every level.”
JOE SAGULA
Sagula made his mark on the sport across four-plus decades as the University of North Carolina and the University of Pennsylvania head women’s volleyball coach. His career record of 865-507 at those two stops places him in the top 20 of Division I coaches for all-time victories.
His spent the majority of collegiate coaching career leading the Tar Heels. Between 1990 and 2023, he amassed more than 650 wins, and his 364 regular-season conference victories make him the winningest coach in ACC history. His teams made 16 NCAA Championship appearances and won seven ACC titles, and he had 22 players selected to the AVCA All-America teams.
During his tenure at Penn from 1981 to 1990, Sagula was the head coach of the women’s team, leading the Quakers to four Ivy League titles. He also coached the Penn men’s team for nine seasons.
“The teams Joe coached always performed at a high level, both on and off the floor, and he nurtured a healthy culture for the women he coached,” said Kansas women’s volleyball coach Ray Bechard. “Joe has also mentored countless coaches and been a great role model for the next generation of coaches.”
Sagula also has given back to the sport in many other ways. He was on the AVCA Board of Directors for 12 years—including being the president from 2004-06—and was on the organization’s Division I Awards Committee for a decade. He also has worked with the U.S. Women’s National Team and is a featured clinic presenter.
Click here to see the full list of AVCA Hall of Fame members.
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About the American Volleyball Coaches Association
The association’s mission is to advance the sport of volleyball with AVCA coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy, and professional development. The membership includes more than 9,500 collegiate, professional, high school, club, and youth volleyball coaches—primarily in the United States. The AVCA represents women’s volleyball, men’s volleyball, and beach volleyball coaches, and works to increase exposure and recognition for the sport of volleyball.
Award Type
- Hall of Fame