Men's Volleyball Adds Milan Zarkovic as Associate Head Coach
September 23, 2025 | Men's Volleyball
LOS ANGELES – UCLA men's volleyball head coach John Hawks announced on Tuesday that the program has hired Milan Zarkovic as an associate head coach.
Zarkovic comes to Westwood after spending the last 12 seasons with the Hawai'i men's volleyball program, where he helped lead the Rainbow Warriors to back-to-back National Championships in 2021 and 2022, as well as runner-up finishes in 2019 and 2023.
"We are thrilled to welcome Milan Zarkovic as our new associate head coach for UCLA Men's Volleyball," head coach John Hawks said. "Milan's extensive experience internationally and domestically, as well as his passion for the game, will be invaluable to our program. Milan has a proven track record of developing elite players and fostering a competitive team culture, which aligns perfectly with our championship aspirations. I look forward to working alongside him as we continue to build on our tremendous legacy here at UCLA. Welcome to Westwood, Milan!"
While at Hawai'i, Zarkovic led the Rainbow Warriors to seven appearances in the NCAA tournament, four national title game appearances, and two NCAA titles. During his time in Manoa, UH accumulated a better than 75% winning percentage and recorded five of the winningest records in program history. Zarkovic was named the AVCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2023.
"I am very excited for the opportunity to work for one of the best university institutions in the world," Zarkovic said. "I've had a long-standing volleyball relationship with John Hawks, and that will be our strength moving forward at UCLA. I'm heading to California as a man who took great pride in what I did in Hawaii, and I feel like I left them in great shape. I'd like to also add a big thank you to John Hawks, Gavin Crew and their administration for all your efforts to bring me to the Bruin family!"
Zarkovic's accolades extend past the collegiate ranks, as he also has an extensive head coaching history in Europe. Zarkovic has more than a decade of national team coaching experience, including serving as head coach of Belarus' Senior National Team from 2011-12. He served as head coach of the Serbian Junior National Team (formerly Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro) from 2001-13, leading the team to a bronze medal at the European Junior Championships in 2010 and a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in 2011.
In all, Zarkovic helped the Serbian youth teams capture five gold medals at the Balkan Championships and three runner-up finishes. He also led his teams to the World Junior Championships three times, including a third-place finish in 2011 in Brazil and seventh-place finishes in 2003 in Iran and 2005 in India. Under his guidance, Serbia moved up from a No. 28 FIVB ranking in 2003 to No. 1 in 2010. In addition, he directed the Serbian squad which captured gold medals at the 2009 and 2011 World Youth Championships. The 2009 squad also won gold at the European Youth Championships, while the 2011 team won silver.
Zarkovic has also coached in the professional ranks for over 20 years at nine different clubs, including a stint with Al Ain in the UAE from 2012 to 2013. At each stop, Zarkovic led his team to a championship. He began his coaching career in 1990 with VC "Anorthosis" (Limassol), then from 1992-97, he coached in VC "Enosis Paralimni" before moving to VC "Pafiakos Silogos Athlopaidion" from 1997-2000. During this time, he led his clubs to several championships and cup titles.
In 2000, Zarkovic returned to Serbia as coach of VC "Partizan" (Belgrade). For the next four seasons, he remained with the club and won both the Championship and Cup titles. In 2004, he coached VC "CSS Sfax" (Tunisia), where he managed to win both the championship and cup titles again. In 2007, he returned to "Partizan" where he coached until 2011. During the 2010-11 season, he won yet another Championship title.
UCLA men's volleyball enters the 2026 season fresh off another strong season in 2025. The Bruins, under first-year head coach John Hawks, advanced to the NCAA Championship title match for the third consecutive year, won over 20 matches for the third straight season, and claimed the MPSF regular-season title for the third successive year. To conclude the season, outside hitter Cooper Robinson was named the MPSF Player of the Year, while Robinson, Zach Rama, Andrew Rowan, and Cameron Thorne were all named AVCA All-Americans.
Zarkovic's Resume
NCAA Accolades
2x NCAA Champion with Hawai'i (2021, 2022)
2x AVA Assistant Coach of the Year with Hawai'i (2020, 2023)
National Team Experience
Belarus Senior National Team; Head Coach (2011-12)
Serbia Junior National Team; Head Coach (2006-13)
Serbia and Montenegro Junior National Team; Head Coach (2003-06)
Yugoslavia Junior National Team; Head Coach (2001-03)
Coaching Experience
Hawai'i, Associate Coach (2016-24)
Hawai'i, Assistant Coach (2014-15)
Al Ain UAE; Head Coach (2012-13)
Stroitel Minsk; Head Coach (2011-12)
Partizan Belgrade Serbia; Head Coach (2007-11)
Saidia Tunis; Head Coach (2007)
CSS Sfax Tunis; Head Coach (2004-06)
Partizan Belgrade Serbia Montenegro; Head Coach (2000-04)
Pafiakos Silogos Athlopaidion; Head Coach (1997-2000)
Enosis Paralimni Cyprus; Head Coach (1992-97)
Anorthosis Limassol Cyprus; Head Coach (1990-92)
Zarkovic comes to Westwood after spending the last 12 seasons with the Hawai'i men's volleyball program, where he helped lead the Rainbow Warriors to back-to-back National Championships in 2021 and 2022, as well as runner-up finishes in 2019 and 2023.
"We are thrilled to welcome Milan Zarkovic as our new associate head coach for UCLA Men's Volleyball," head coach John Hawks said. "Milan's extensive experience internationally and domestically, as well as his passion for the game, will be invaluable to our program. Milan has a proven track record of developing elite players and fostering a competitive team culture, which aligns perfectly with our championship aspirations. I look forward to working alongside him as we continue to build on our tremendous legacy here at UCLA. Welcome to Westwood, Milan!"
While at Hawai'i, Zarkovic led the Rainbow Warriors to seven appearances in the NCAA tournament, four national title game appearances, and two NCAA titles. During his time in Manoa, UH accumulated a better than 75% winning percentage and recorded five of the winningest records in program history. Zarkovic was named the AVCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2023.
"I am very excited for the opportunity to work for one of the best university institutions in the world," Zarkovic said. "I've had a long-standing volleyball relationship with John Hawks, and that will be our strength moving forward at UCLA. I'm heading to California as a man who took great pride in what I did in Hawaii, and I feel like I left them in great shape. I'd like to also add a big thank you to John Hawks, Gavin Crew and their administration for all your efforts to bring me to the Bruin family!"
Zarkovic's accolades extend past the collegiate ranks, as he also has an extensive head coaching history in Europe. Zarkovic has more than a decade of national team coaching experience, including serving as head coach of Belarus' Senior National Team from 2011-12. He served as head coach of the Serbian Junior National Team (formerly Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro) from 2001-13, leading the team to a bronze medal at the European Junior Championships in 2010 and a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in 2011.
In all, Zarkovic helped the Serbian youth teams capture five gold medals at the Balkan Championships and three runner-up finishes. He also led his teams to the World Junior Championships three times, including a third-place finish in 2011 in Brazil and seventh-place finishes in 2003 in Iran and 2005 in India. Under his guidance, Serbia moved up from a No. 28 FIVB ranking in 2003 to No. 1 in 2010. In addition, he directed the Serbian squad which captured gold medals at the 2009 and 2011 World Youth Championships. The 2009 squad also won gold at the European Youth Championships, while the 2011 team won silver.
Zarkovic has also coached in the professional ranks for over 20 years at nine different clubs, including a stint with Al Ain in the UAE from 2012 to 2013. At each stop, Zarkovic led his team to a championship. He began his coaching career in 1990 with VC "Anorthosis" (Limassol), then from 1992-97, he coached in VC "Enosis Paralimni" before moving to VC "Pafiakos Silogos Athlopaidion" from 1997-2000. During this time, he led his clubs to several championships and cup titles.
In 2000, Zarkovic returned to Serbia as coach of VC "Partizan" (Belgrade). For the next four seasons, he remained with the club and won both the Championship and Cup titles. In 2004, he coached VC "CSS Sfax" (Tunisia), where he managed to win both the championship and cup titles again. In 2007, he returned to "Partizan" where he coached until 2011. During the 2010-11 season, he won yet another Championship title.
UCLA men's volleyball enters the 2026 season fresh off another strong season in 2025. The Bruins, under first-year head coach John Hawks, advanced to the NCAA Championship title match for the third consecutive year, won over 20 matches for the third straight season, and claimed the MPSF regular-season title for the third successive year. To conclude the season, outside hitter Cooper Robinson was named the MPSF Player of the Year, while Robinson, Zach Rama, Andrew Rowan, and Cameron Thorne were all named AVCA All-Americans.
Zarkovic's Resume
NCAA Accolades
2x NCAA Champion with Hawai'i (2021, 2022)
2x AVA Assistant Coach of the Year with Hawai'i (2020, 2023)
National Team Experience
Belarus Senior National Team; Head Coach (2011-12)
Serbia Junior National Team; Head Coach (2006-13)
Serbia and Montenegro Junior National Team; Head Coach (2003-06)
Yugoslavia Junior National Team; Head Coach (2001-03)
Coaching Experience
Hawai'i, Associate Coach (2016-24)
Hawai'i, Assistant Coach (2014-15)
Al Ain UAE; Head Coach (2012-13)
Stroitel Minsk; Head Coach (2011-12)
Partizan Belgrade Serbia; Head Coach (2007-11)
Saidia Tunis; Head Coach (2007)
CSS Sfax Tunis; Head Coach (2004-06)
Partizan Belgrade Serbia Montenegro; Head Coach (2000-04)
Pafiakos Silogos Athlopaidion; Head Coach (1997-2000)
Enosis Paralimni Cyprus; Head Coach (1992-97)
Anorthosis Limassol Cyprus; Head Coach (1990-92)
Players Mentioned
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