Nikola Petrovic joins the Rams in 2011 following a successfulcoaching career that has spanned two decades in the United Statesand Europe.
Petrovic spent last season as an assistant coach at TempleUniversity after a four-year stint as head coach at Garden CityCommunity College in Garden City, Kan. Petrovic led Garden City to55 victories, as well as consecutive winning seasons in 2006 and2007. His teams also excelled in the classroom, where they earned apair of NJCAA National Team Academic Awards.
During the 2005-06 school year, Petrovic served as an assistantcoach – and was later elevated to interim head coach - atUAB. Petrovic recruited four All-Conference USA players toBirmingham, including three student-athletes that went on to winAll-AVCA honors. Petrovic helped lead the Blazers to a 14-13 markthat season, the school's best record in 10 years.
Prior to his UAB tenure, Petrovic served as an assistant coachat Barton Country Community College in 2004, where he helped guidethe school to an 18-9 mark.
From 2001-03, Petrovic assisted at Division II NorthwoodUniversity. Two Northwood players captured All-America honorsduring Petrovic's stay and 11 were selected All-Conference. TheTimberwolves were 72-27 and earned two NCAA bids duringPetrovic’s tenure. NU placed 14th in the finalAVCA Coaches Poll in 2002 and was also ranked as high as eighthduring the 2001 season.
Petrovic began his coaching career with Red Star Volleyball, aprofessional club based out of Belgrade, Serbia, where he coachedand served as camp director from 1993-2000.
Over the course of his career, Petrovic has served as a coach anddirector for numerous junior volleyball clubs and has worked campsat Ball State, LSU, Colorado, Kansas State and Texas.
A native of Belgrade, Serbia, Petrovic played setter for Serbianprofessional club Zeleznicar for five years. He graduated from theUniversity of Belgrade in 1997 with a degree in physicaleducation.
