Mizzou volleyball hires Atanas Petrov as assistant coach

Missouri volleyball announced the hiring of Atanas Petrov as an assistant coach Friday. Petrov has served in many different coaching roles internationally, most recently as the head coach of the Bulgarian U19 women’s team.

“I’m incredibly excited to join the Mizzou family,” Petrov said in a release. “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.”

He is also currently the head coach of Volley Schönenwerd Men’s Volleyball Club in Switzerland. Petrov was also named the best coach in Bulgaria for 2025 and took the Bulgarian U19 women’s team to a world championship.

Petrov started his career as a coach in 1999 as an assistant with the National Sports Academy Vasil Levski. He also served as the head coach for the Romanian women’s national team, the U21 Bulgarian men’s national team and the Bulgarian U18 women’s team.

The Bulgarian was an outside hitter for the country’s national team while playing for other Bulgarian clubs. He graduated from the National Sports Academy Vasil Levski in 2008 with a master’s degree in volleyball coaching and physical education.