Zagreb, Croatia. Branko Draganic, the legendary Kaštela Volleyball coach who raised an incredible number of talented female and male players, died in Split on Monday, March 8.
Professor Draganic was born in Konjic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in 1935, where he completed his secondary education. He enrolled at the Faculty of Physical Education in Sarajevo, graduating in 1965 in Belgrade. He started playing Volleyball at the age of 16, eventually joining the national teams of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Yugoslavia. He competed at the very first Universiade held in 1959 in Turin, Italy, and as a player, he was a five-time national champion.
In the 70s, he met his wife-to-be, Ruža from Kaštela, and since then his life and professional path had a very close and special connection with this town. In 1976, Dragani? started working as a coach in OK Kaštela – Kaštela Riviera, with all age categories, and introduced them five times to the then First Federal League. His greatest success was winning the junior national championship of Yugoslavia.
Draganic left his mark on men’s Volleyball in OK Mladost Kaštel Lukšic, a team he guided to the then Second United Yugoslav League in 1990.
From 1989 until 1997, he worked as a coach in Split, but also as a lecturer in volleyball technique and methodology at the Faculty of Kinesiology of the same city. In 2016, he received a special award for his long-term work and promotion of sports in the town of Kaštela.
With his dedicated work, Mr Draganic made a great contribution to the development of Volleyball, and helped grow many generations of players. He was and he will remain a very important member of the Volleyball family and many people will forever remember him fondly.
The CEV and the Croatian Volleyball Federation wish to extend sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Draganic, knowing that his legacy will continue to bear fruits for many years to come.
News:
CEV – European Volleyball
HOS – Croatian Volleyball Federation
