Paula Weishoff, Olympic Legend, Inspires

Team USA at the NORCECA Final Six

GUADALAJARA, Jalisco, September 18, 2025. – At the 2025 NORCECA Women’s Final Six, legendary player and International Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee Paula Weishoff is making her mark off the court, serving as assistant coach for Team USA. The three-time Olympian — silver medalist in Los Angeles 1984 and bronze medalist in Barcelona 1992 — spoke about her transition from player to coach, her vision of today’s game, and what it means to once again represent her country, this time in a technical role.

Weishoff, considered one of the most complete players in volleyball history, enjoyed a prolific professional career in Italy, Brazil, and Japan, earning multiple Most Valuable Player honors. After retiring as a player, she found in coaching a new way to give back to the sport that has given her so much.

“I never thought I would get into coaching. But destiny led me there. Lisa Love, coach at USC, gave me the opportunity to coach in college, study the game, and discover my passion for coaching,” she explained.

For Weishoff, the shift from playing to coaching required a deep learning process:

“Not all great players become great coaches. You have to learn how to transfer your knowledge and help players understand what’s happening on the court when you can’t be out there yourself. I had great mentors and studied the game in depth. That has helped me tremendously in my coaching role.”

After working with several USA Volleyball development programs and coaching various age groups, Weishoff returned to the national team for the quad leading up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. Since then, she had dedicated herself exclusively to coaching at the collegiate level — until this recent return to the national team staff.

“I needed a break after 2012. I was doing double duty — USA practices in the morning and my college team in the evening. Now I’m back with renewed energy. I’m here to support Erik Sullivan’s staff, help wherever I’m needed, and contribute with the experience I’ve gained.”

Regarding her work with the new generation of players, Paula is optimistic:

“This generation is exceptional. They’re very receptive to feedback and understand their roles, whether they are on the court or not. They’re engaged and striving to get better, which makes our job so much easier.”

Weishoff also shared advice for young players with dreams of reaching the highest level:

“Every player is different. Some you need to push, others you need to explain why, and many are very visual and need to see video. The most important thing is helping them understand the purpose of what they are doing.”

Finally, Paula expressed her joy at being back on the international stage:

“I love volleyball. I’m happy to be here and to have this opportunity. Volleyball has been so good to me, and I feel blessed to give something back to the sport.”

Team USA is determined to remain a top contender in the region, and this tournament in Guadalajara marks a key step in their preparation for the next Olympic cycle. With leaders like Paula Weishoff on the staff, the legacy of U.S. volleyball continues to inspire new generations.