Coach will use new lessons

After coaching the United States women’s volleyball team to a gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games, Pitt coach Dan Fisher is excited to bring the lessons he learned in Toronto back to the Panthers.

“There are definitely some things technically that I learned, just from watching the best in the world, and also just from being around the national team and the assistants I had,” Fisher said.

“I’m definitely going to change a few things we do, both technically and tactically.”

One of the best lessons Fisher learned was the importance of team chemistry.

“I continue to learn how important it is to connect with your players,” Fisher said. “This is such a short amount of time, so coming together quickly is maybe the most important thing. So, we definitely made connecting with our players fast a priority, and I think that it showed in the result.”

Team USA swept Brazil, 25-22, 25-21, 28-26, in the gold-medal match Saturday. In the final set, the U.S. team battled back from being down, 20-12, to secure the victory. Fisher said this exciting finish is what made the win so enjoyable for him.

“It’s pretty rare to make a comeback in rally scoring system volleyball from that big of a margin,” Fisher said. “It was a great moment.”

Despite his success coaching the national team, Fisher said he is content at Pitt. The Panthers begin their upcoming season next month.

“I’m not, per se, looking to leave college coaching,” Fisher said.

“Those are opportunities that have come up in the past, and I’m happy here. I’m focused on my college career. For me, the national team stuff, it’s just nice if I can be invited on some trips or I can do something like this in the summertime.

“This year was just awesome because it worked out so well in my schedule.”

Fisher, 39, had previously worked as an assistant for the U.S. women’s national team in 2012 and 2007.

Overall, the team went 51 in the tournament, losing only to Brazil in pool play.

This is the first time since 1967 that the U.S. women’s volleyball team has won gold at the Pan Am Games.