Karch Kiraly is a former American volleyball player, coach, and broadcast announcer who was a key member of the United States National Team that won gold medals in the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games. He went on to win another gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games, the first to feature beach volleyball. He became the first player (male or female) to win Olympic gold medals in both indoor and beach volleyball. He is the current head coach of the United States women’s national volleyball team, and he is leading them to their first-ever gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He had the Hungarian nickname Karcsi (pronounced Karch-ee) as a child, which corresponds to the Hungarian name Karoly for Charles. Later, at UCLA, he was known as Karch.
Quick Facts
| Celebrated Name | Karch Kiraly |
|---|---|
| Age | 63 Years |
| Nick Name | Karch |
| Birth Name | Charles Frederick Kiraly |
| Birth Date | 1960-11-03 |
| Gender | Male |
| Profession | Volleyball Player |
| Place Of Birth | Jackson, Michigan |
| Birth Nation | USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | American-White |
| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Religion | Christian |
| Father | Laszlo Kiraly |
| Mother | Antoinette Kiraly |
| Siblings | 2 |
| Sisters | 2; Kati and Kristi Kiraly |
| High School | Santa Barbara High School |
| University | UCLA |
| Awards | AVP Outstanding Achievement Award and more |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Janna |
| Children | 2 |
| Son | Kristian and Kory |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Net Worth | $2 Million |
| Source of Wealth | Coaching Career |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in or 1.88 m |
| Weight | 205 lbs or 93 Kg |
Karch Kiraly Biography
Karch Kiraly was born on November 3, 1960, in Budapest, Hungary. His birthplace is Jackson, Michigan, in the United States, and his hometown is Santa Barbara, California. Charles Frederick Kiraly is his given name. He is American by nationality and American-White by ethnicity. His ethnicity is White. His horoscope sign is Scorpio, and he practices Christianity. His father, Laszlo Kiraly, and mother, Antoinette Kiraly, gave birth to him. His father was a member of Hungary’s junior national volleyball squad. He also has two sisters, Kati and Kristi Kiraly. In 2024, he celebrated his 63rd birthday. Kiraly began playing volleyball at the age of six, and at the age of eleven, he competed in his first beach volleyball event alongside his father.
Kiraly received his education at Santa Barbara High School, where he was a member of the boys’ varsity volleyball team. Kiraly was invited to join the Junior National Team during high school, where he competed for three years. In 1978, he attended UCLA, where he majored in biochemistry and was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Epsilon Sigma Chapter.
During his senior year, he added another title to his college resume. During his four years, the Bruins were 123–5, with titles in 1979, 1981, and 1982. They were unbeaten in both the 1979 and 1982 seasons. All four years, he was an All-American, and he was named NCAA Volleyball Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 1981 and 1982. He graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry with a 3.55 overall GPA in June 1983. In 1992, he was inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame, and his jersey was retired in 1993.
Karch Kiraly Height, Weight
Karch Kiraly is a dashing young man. He stands at 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) tall. His balanced body weight is 205 pounds (93 kg). His additional bodily measures, such as chest size, waist size, bicep size, and others, are still unknown. In general, he has a healthy figure and a charming attitude.
Career
- Karch Kiraly is the ‘winningest’ player in the sport’s history, having a long career on the professional beach circuit and winning 148 tournaments throughout his career.
- Kiraly competed until he was in his mid-40s.
- In 1992, he left his indoor career behind and returned to the United States to play full-time beach volleyball on the AVP tour.
- Kiraly returned to the Olympics in 1996, competing in beach volleyball with his partner, Steffes.
- He won 148 professional beach volleyball championships, 74 of which he shared with Steffes.
- Nearly the course of his beach career, he won over $3 million in prize money and earned much more in endorsements.
- Karch Kiraly coached his two sons at St. Margaret’s Episcopal High School.
- As an assistant coach under Hugh McCutcheon, he helped the team win silver at the 2012 London Olympics.
- In 2012, he was named head coach of the U.S. women’s volleyball team for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
- He led the Women’s National Team to the FIVB World Championship, where they beat China. Kiraly is the fourth individual to win a World Championship gold medal as a player and coach in October 2014.
- He led the U.S. women to a bronze medal, making him the fourth player to earn medals as a player and a coach in Rio.
- On August 8, 2021, during the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, he guided the US women to a gold medal, becoming only the second player to do it after China’s Lang Ping.
Karch Kiraly Relationship Status
Karch Kiraly is married to Janna. The couple has two children, two sons named Kristian and Kory. Janna and Karch are both supportive and devoted to one another. Karch Kiraly currently resides with his wife and children in Heber City, Utah.
Karch Kiraly’s Net Worth
Karch Kiraly is a volleyball player, coach, and commentator with an estimated net worth of $2 million as of January 2024. He has won nearly $3 million in prize money and many more in endorsements. His coaching career is his main source of riches. Details about his compensation are still being worked out.
Trivia
- Karch Kiraly was a key member of the United States National Team that won gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games in the 1980s.
- He is the current head coach of the United States women’s national volleyball team, and he is leading them to their first-ever gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
- Karch became the first player (male or female) to win Olympic gold medals in indoor and beach volleyball.
- Charles Frederick Kiraly is his given name.
