Beach volleyball coach

Andy Benesh and Miles Partain, the U.S. beach volleyball pair, have unexpectedly fired their coach, Mike Placek, during the Paris Olympics, following a mixed start that included a loss to Cuba and a hard-fought win against Morocco. The decision was made between their second and third matches, culminating in a victory over Brazil without Placek present. In a joint statement, the duo expressed gratitude for Placek's contributions but stated that they needed to explore different strategic paths, opting to keep the reasons for the change private. Commentators noted that such a coaching change during an Olympic competition is unprecedented. Assistant coach Paul Lotman may step in as the team prepares for their Round of 16 match against Italy on Monday. The player's performance has raised questions about the coaching dynamics, but further details remain undisclosed.