Gary Sato “Grow the Game”
Gary Sato is Passionate about volleyball! Help him Grow the Game!
Growing up in the hotbed of volleyball Santa Monica, California Gary climbed the ladder to reach the highest level of coaching this wonderful sport. Volleyball enabled Gary to travel the world and coach at the world’s biggest sporting event the Olympic Games. Not just once but 3 times. (1988 Seoul, Korea, 1992 Barcelona, Spain and most recently 2012 London, UK)
He went on to become a doctor of chiropractic from the Southern California University of Health Sciences in 1992 and currently runs his own practice, Sato Chiropractic in Santa Monica, California.
Being a part of the highly successful USA Men’s National Team program for all those years as well as being the eldest of *6 volleyball playing kids affectionately called the “first family of volleyball” Gary now wants to share his knowledge and experience with the next generation of american volleyball players…YOU!
Gary returned to the Olympic Games for the third time as an assistant coach for the U.S. men’s volleyball team, following his turns as assistant coach to the Gold Medal-winning 1988 team with head coach Marv Dunphy and the Bronze Medal-winning 1992 team.
1988 Olympic Gold Medal Team
Gary graduated from Pepperdine University in 1978 with a bachelor of science in kinesiology. Gary was the former head women’s volleyball coach (1979-82) and assistant men’s volleyball coach for the Waves (1978-05, intermittent) but played his volleyball at the University of California at Santa Barbara (1975-77)
Dr. Gary Sato (Los Angeles) had been involved with the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team for more than 20 years when he rejoined the team as assistant coach under Head Coach Alan Knipe in the summer of 2009.
Four years later, the U.S. Men’s Team finished with an overall record of 72-34.
Gary first served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s Team from 1984-88, including the team that won the 1988 Olympic gold medal in Seoul. His brother, Eric, was a player on that team. He was also an assistant for the teams that won the 1986 World Championship and the 1987 Pan American Games.
Gary served as head coach for the U.S. Men’s gold-medal win at the 1985 FIVB World Cup in Japan and was voted the Most Valuable Coach of the tournament. In 1992 he returned as assistant coach for the Olympic Team that won the bronze medal after completing his chiropractic education.
Gary’s coaching career has included pro beach championships, numerous junior club championships and pro indoor championships.
Gary served as the head coach for the U.S. beach team at the 2007 Pan American Games coaching Hans Stolfus and Ty Loomis to a silver medal finish.
Gary played volleyball at Santa Monica High School and Santa Monica College before moving on to UC Santa Barbara, where he was an All-American outside hitter with a best finish of 1975 NCAA runner-up losing in the finals to the University of California at Los Angeles.
In 2011 Sato was named to the Santa Monica College Hall of Fame.
Gary will be spending his time watching his 3 children compete in volleyball. His eldest Andrew will be playing at Long Beach State University. His daughters Katie and Malia will be playing club volleyball in the 18′s and 14′s division. This being said, Gary will be attending lots of matches and tournaments and of course may observe your kids playing as well.
*Gary is the eldest of six children known worldwide for their contributions to the sport. Brother Eric won the Olympic gold medal with the U.S. Men in 1988 and a bronze in 1992. Sister Liane won the World Championship bronze medal with the U.S. Women in 1990 and also played on the ’88 Olympic team. Brothers Scott (San Diego State) and Glenn (Loyola Marymount) both played college volleyball and Glenn currently coaches at Santa Monica High School with his sister Liane.