Joe Baranik - Asst. CoachIvelin Velikov - Volunter Asst. CoachJoe Baranik
1st Season
Lock Haven '82
Although new to the Monarchs, assistant coach Joe Baranik is certainly no stranger to the sport of wrestling.
Baranik, a native of Altoona, Pa., had a standout career at Lock Haven University, finishing as a conference place-winner twice before graduating and moving on to Slippery Rock University.
While at SRU, Baranik served as assistant coach during the 1983 season and followed that up by becoming the head coach at Mercer HS (PA) from 1984-87.
After coaching at the University of Virginia and then Maury HS (VA) from 1988-1990, Baranik moved on to the United States Military Academy (West Point), where he served as an assistant coach and helped produce one of the top recruiting classes in the country during his stay.
Most recently, Baranik served as the head coach at Hollidaysburg HS (PA) from 1993-1999, where he coached four regional champions, one state champion and one state finalist.
Baranik has also served as the Assistant Scholastic Director of the National Wrestling Coaching Association for the past three years.
Joining Old Dominion as a volunteer assistant coach in 2000, Ivelin Velikov brings plenty of international wrestling experience to the Monarch program.
A national champion in 1988, Velikov never finished below third place in national competion during his high school career.
After a stint with the Bulgarian Army from 1991-1992, Velikov went on to police work for the Ministry of Domestic Affairs and graduated from the High Institute in 1998.
He currently works for the Old Dominion University Public Safety Department and resides in Virginia Beach with his wife Svetlana and their six-year old daughter, Kiril.
