MALIBU, Calif. – Pending U.S. Olympic Committee approval, Pepperdine’s Marv Dunphy will work the 2008 Beijing Olympics as the consultant coach for the U.S. men’s volleyball squad.

 

Dunphy, who is in his 25th season as head coach at Pepperdine and has led the Waves to four national championships, was the head coach of the U.S. team that won a gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

 

He is a long-time part of the U.S. staff, having served as an assistant coach in 1976 (although the team didn’t qualify) and at the 2000 Sydney OIympics, and also was the consultant coach at the 1996 Atlanta and 2004 Athens Olympics.

 

“Basically, as a consultant coach, a group of us are trying to figure out what the opposing team is doing, and what we need to do to beat them,” Dunphy said. “This is the highest level in our sport and it’s an honor to be involved. The U.S. has a very good team and is a medal contender.”

 

USA Volleyball submitted its staff list to the USOC earlier this week. The staff will consist of head coach Hugh McCutcheon, assistant coaches Ron Larsen and John Speraw, scout Jamie Morrison, team leader Rob Browning and trainer Aaron Brock.

 

The U.S. qualified for the Olympics by winning the NORCECA Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship, held Jan. 6-11 in Puerto Rico.

 

The Waves are currently ranked fifth in the nation and visit #2 BYU for two matches this weekend.