The University of Hawai‘i men's volleyball team has lost beloved assistant coach Mian Zarkovic to UCLA.
Zarkovic, the former associate head coach for the Rainbow Warriors, will have the same title at UCLA under head coach John Hawks.
"We are thrilled to welcome Milan Zarkovic as our new associate head coach for UCLA Men's Volleyball," Hawks said in a UCLA release. "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."
Milan Zarkovic, whose son, Sinisa, played for the Rainbow Warriors from 2013 to 2016, joined the program as an assistant coach in the fall of 2013.
Milan Zarkovic, a native of Serbia, was elevated to associate coach in 2016. He was viewed as an ace recruiter and played an instrumental in getting star international players such as Stijn Van TIlburg, Rado Parapunov, Jakob Thelle, Spyros Chakas and over a dozen global standouts to come to Mānoa.
Under head coach Charlie Wade, Zarkovic was named the AVCA Assistant Coach of The Year in 2020 and 2023. Meanwhile, the Rainbow Warriors won national titles with him on staff in 2021 and 2022.
The Rainbow Warriors, who went 27-6 in 2025, were eliminated via sweep to UCLA in the national semifinals. The Bruins were then swept by Long Beach State in the national championship on May 12.
An official schedule for Hawai‘i's 2026 campaign has yet to be released.
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
