The head coach of the Bulgarian U18 women's national team, Atanas Petrov, will continue his career in American collegiate volleyball. The Bulgarian specialist was appointed assistant coach for the University of Missouri (Mizzou Tigers) women's team, the program officially announced.
Missouri competes in NCAA Division I and is part of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) – one of the strongest conferences in American collegiate sports. Petrov will be part of head coach Dawn Sullivan's staff.
"I am incredibly happy to welcome Atanas Petrov. He has proven himself on the international stage and brings with him tremendous experience, passion, and a championship mentality. His knowledge in player development, training processes, and talent recruitment will have an immediate impact on our program," Sullivan stated to Missouri's official website.
Petrov himself also commented on his appointment:
"I am excited to join the Mizzou family. This is a special opportunity to work alongside excellent athletes and coaches. I am committed to helping the program compete at the highest level and to creating an environment where athletes can develop every day."
In the official announcement from the American university, Petrov is presented as the head coach of Bulgaria U19, with whom he won the world title in 2025. Currently, however, the Bulgarian specialist is at the helm of the Bulgarian U18 women's national team, which he is leading during the 2026 season.
The world title with Bulgaria U19 also brought Petrov significant individual recognition. He finished second in the traditional "Coach of the Year" poll for 2025 by "Trud" newspaper, in which sports editors from Bulgarian media outlets vote. Only Gianlorenzo Blengini, the coach of the men's national team, ranked ahead of him.
Interestingly, Missouri's official information also states that Petrov is the current head coach of the Swiss team Volley Schönenwerd. However, this also does not correspond to the current situation. Back in May, the Swiss club officially announced their parting ways with the Bulgarian specialist after the end of the season, and Romanian coach Cristian Cîtițoiu was appointed as his successor.
Atanas Petrov began his coaching career in 1999. Over the years, he has led the Romanian women's national team, various national squads of Bulgaria, as well as clubs in Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, and Switzerland. In his club career, he has won seven league titles, five national cups, and two supercups.
The appointment at Missouri is one of the most prestigious in the Bulgarian specialist's career, as the program competes in the elite NCAA Division I, and the SEC is among the most competitive conferences in U.S. collegiate volleyball.