COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Mizzou volleyball program has hired Atanas Petrov in the assistant coach role, head coach Dawn Sullivan announced on Thursday, July 23.
As the head coach of the U19 Bulgarian women's national team, Petrov brings leadership and international experience to the coaching staff.
"I am thrilled to welcome Atanas Petrov," Sullivan said. "He has proven himself on the international stage and brings a wealth of experience, passion and a championship mindset. His expertise in player development, training, and recruiting will make an immediately impact on our program. We are excited to add someone of his caliber to our staff."
Petrov began his coaching career in 1999, when he first served as an assistant coach with the National Sports Academy Vasil Levski. The Bulgarian worked his way through the system, serving as the national team head coach for Romania (2012-13), Bulgaria's U21 men's team (2014-15), the Bulgarian U18 women's team (2021-22) and the Bulgarian U19 women's team (2025-present).
During his most recent stint with the U19 team, he coached them to a World Championship and was named the best coach in Bulgaria for 2025. He was previously named the best coach of the National Sport Association of Bulgaria back in 2005.
Currently, Petrov resides as the head coach of the Volley Schönenwerd Men's Volleyball Club (Switzerland). The club-level veteran has coached numerous clubs in Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. Over that course, he is a seven-time club champion, five-time national cup winner and two-time super cup winner.
"I'm incredibly excited to join the Mizzou family," Petrov said. "This is a special opportunity to work alongside outstanding athletes and coaches, and I'm committed to helping our program compete at the highest level while creating an environment where our players can grow every day."
As a player, he was an outside hitter on the junior national team in Bulgaria, and he played for a variety of top Bulgarian clubs. He graduated with a master's in volleyball coaching and physical education from the National Sports Academy Vasil Levski in 2008. He received a bachelor's in public relations and management from Sofia University Kliment Ohridski in 2014.
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