COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec. 3, 2021) – USA Volleyball has hired Tama Miyashiro as a full-time assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team.
Miyashiro, a 2012 Olympic silver medalist, has worked as a seasonal assistant coach for the Women’s National Team since 2017. In August, she helped the team win its first ever Olympic gold medal in Tokyo.
Miyashiro cited the players and staff she works with as the reason she was anxious to continue with the U.S. Women after the Tokyo Olympic Games.
“The people in this program, the girls and our staff, have worked hard to build and maintain a program that is really unique,” Miyashiro said. “I love coaching the team at a high level. This environment has been amazing. It’s full of learning and challenges and I think we are doing something special here. I wanted to stay a part of it.”
U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly praised Miyashiro for her character and work ethic.
“Tama is a fantastic coach with incredibly high character,” U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Karch Kiraly said. “I don’t know that I have met anyone more selfless than Tama, both as a player and as a coach.
“She has been the driving force when it comes to training and teaching our passers. It is not a coincidence that our passing performance was off the charts in Tokyo.”
Miyashiro joined the U.S. Women’s Team as a libero in 2010 after a stellar career at the University of Washington. Along with her Olympic silver medal, she helped the U.S. Women win gold in three FIVB World Grand Prix events (2011, ’12 and ’15).
U.S. libero Justine Wong-Orantes worked closely with Miyashiro leading up to the Tokyo Olympic Games.
“Tama has really been a huge part of my professional development, and for that, I am so grateful,” Wong-Orantes said. “I couldn’t be happier for her to be full time with USA Volleyball. She represents the program so well.”
Miyashiro fills the vacancy left by Luka Slabe, who became the full-time head coach of the NC State women’s volleyball team.