Grieving Men's Volleyball Coach Hugh McCutcheon Takes Leave

As I type this, the U.S. men's volleyball team is taking on Venezuela. Their coach, Hugh McCutcheon, isn't there as he is dealing with the murder of his father-in-law yesterday in Beijing.

McCutcheon is taking a leave of absence to grieve his father-in-law, Todd Bachman. Bachman and his wife, Barbara, were attacked by a man with a knife while sight-seeing at Beijing's Drum Tower. Todd Bachman was stabbed to death; Barbara Bachman is in serious condition; their daughter (and McCutcheon's wife) was there but unharmed. The killer committed suicide by jumping 130 feet off the building to his death.

"As a team, there is nothing more important to us than supporting Mrs. Bachman in her struggle and supporting Hugh and Elisabeth in their grief," men's volleyball team spokesman Rob Browning said. "We are absolutely devastated by what has occurred, for their loss and for everything they are going through.

"Hugh has been in touch with the team throughout this tragedy and we're extremely proud of the strength he and Elisabeth are displaying. They know we're here for them in every way possible.

"We're banding together as a team to lift up the Bachmans and McCutcheons. We are a family, and we'll get through this together as a family."

Assistant Ron Larsen has taken over the team in their match against Venezuela and for the near future.