Nikolay Karpol

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Nikolay Karpol (Николай Васильевич Карполь) (born May 1, 1938 in Brest region) is a Russian women's volleyball coach, who is considered to be one of the most experienced international coaches in the history of the modern game.

Following a four-year stint from 1979–1982 Karpol, who took over as head coach of the national Russian women’s team for a second time in 1988, has kept Russia at the top of women’s games for the best part of the last two decades with astonishing success. He has retired from the post of national team coach after winning the silver medal in the Olympic Games 2004 in Athens. He still remains head coach of his club team Uralochka Ekaterinburg.

His dedication and determination to expect nothing less than the best from his players has seen Russia claim gold medals at the 1980 and the 1988 Summer Olympics, another gold at the 1990 World Championship, World Grand Prix titles in 1997, 1999 and 2002, the World Grand Champion Cup in 1997 and 1999 and European Championship titles in 1979, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999, and 2001.

This stunning record of achievement has been recognised by the FIVB on a number of occasions with his naming as the FIVB Coach of the Year in 1989 and 1991, and the best coach of the 1990 Volleyball World Championships.

Karpol is famous for yelling at his players all throughout matches. According to his own statements he never insults players but only gives technical advice. Furthermore he says nobody ever left a hall because of his yelling but many people have left halls because of bad matches.