Craig Buck

Craig Buck
Personal information
BornCraig Werner Buck
August 24, 1958 (1958-08-24) (age 66)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height6 ft 9 in (206 cm)
College / UniversityPepperdine University
Volleyball information
PositionMiddle blocker
Number7
National team
1981–1990 United States
Medal record
Men's volleyball
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1984 Los Angeles Team
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul Team
World Championship
Gold medal – first place 1986 France Team
FIVB World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1985 Japan
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1987 Indianapolis Team

Craig Werner Buck (born August 24, 1958) is an American former volleyball player and two-time Olympic gold medalist. He was a member of the United States national team that won the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.[1][2]

Buck also helped the United States to gold medals at the 1985 FIVB World Cup and the 1986 FIVB World Championship, which, following the 1984 Olympic gold, constituted a "triple crown".[3]

Buck is widely regarded as one of the best middle blockers of all time.[3] He was also a very effective hitter.[4] In 1990, the United States Olympic Committee selected him as their volleyball player of the year.[5]

Buck was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1998.[3]

High school

Buck played volleyball at William Howard Taft Charter High School in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, where he was selected as an All-City player in 1975 and 1976.[5]

College

Buck was an All-American at Pepperdine University in 1980 and 1981 while playing under coach Marv Dunphy.[3]

In 1985, Buck was inducted into the Pepperdine Hall of Fame.[6]

Awards

  • Two-time All-American — 1980, 1981
  • Two-time Olympic gold medal — 1984, 1988
  • FIVB World Cup gold medal — 1985
  • FIVB World Championship gold medal — 1986
  • Pepperdine Hall of Fame — 1985
  • Pan American Games gold medal — 1987
  • USOC volleyball player of the year — 1990
  • International Volleyball Hall of Fame — 1998

See also

References

  1. ^ "Craig Werner Buck". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  2. ^ Vecsey, George (October 3, 1988). "Men's Volleyball; U.S. Repeats Gold-Medal Performance". The New York Times. p. C11. Retrieved September 6, 2024. (subscription required)
  3. ^ a b c d "Craig Buck". International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on August 13, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  4. ^ Lidz, Franz (September 14, 1988). "This Guy Has a License to Kill Steve Timmons, One of the Mainstays of the Favored U.S. Team, Has Gone from Slam-dunking to Slam-bang Spiking". Sports Illustrated. New York City: Time. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Garcia, Irene (July 8, 1994). "Memories for a Buck : Two-Time Olympian Middle Blocker Looks Back". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 15, 2023. (subscription required)
  6. ^ "Craig Buck". Pepperdine University Athletics. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.