The 51-year-old from California, the only man to have won Olympic gold medals in both the indoor and beach versions of the sport, joined the coaching staff in 2009 under the direction of Hugh McCutcheon.

Kiraly will now take on the top job after McCutcheon, 42, chose to step down following the London 2012 Olympics at which the US (pictured top, in blue) won silver behind Brazil.

"I could not be happier with USA Volleyball's decision to select Karch as the head coach of the US women's national volleyball team," said New Zealander McCutcheon, who has assumed a position as women's volleyball coach at the University of Minnesota.

"He's a great man and a wonderful volleyball coach."

Karch Kiraly (left) succeeds and Hugh McCutcheon (centre) as head coach of the US women's indoor volleyball team

Kiraly will now look to inspire the US to claim its inaugural women's gold medal at a major event.

"This programme has such a history of high performance and has accomplished so much – including three Olympic Games silver medals – yet it has never won a triple-crown event: a World Championships, a World Cup or an Olympics," Kiraly said.

"At some point the USA women will change that, and I yearn to help in that effort."

Earlier this year, the US captured the FIVB World Grand Prix gold medal for a third consecutive year.

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