Sarah Drury Petkovic, a cornerstone of the Louisville volleyball program, has climbed to a historic new role. Head coach Dan Meske announced that Drury Petkovic will assume the newly created position of Chief of Staff for the Cardinals, marking a first in NCAA Volleyball and cementing her as a trailblazer within the sport.
Coach Meske offered high praise for his newly minted chief, noting her long-standing impact on the program. According to Meske, Drury Petkovic has been the steady engine behind Louisville volleyball for years, working tirelessly in ways that often go unseen but are fundamental to Cardinal success. He called her “the heartbeat of our program” and expressed his enthusiasm about her expanded leadership.
In her new capacity, Drury Petkovic will focus on developing current student-athletes, offering guidance in personal growth, player skills, and leadership development. As a Louisville native and UofL alumna, she is uniquely positioned to further boost the Cardinals’ profile, leveraging her deep ties to the city and the greater volleyball community. Her responsibilities also extend to overseeing the program’s revenue share, alumni and donor relations, and general management duties.
Drury Petkovic is no stranger to Cardinal excellence. As a former standout for Louisville, she began her journey as a walk-on before earning a scholarship and a stint with the USA National Team. Her story remains one of the program’s best, rising from humble beginnings to national acclaim. Drury Petkovic set a single-season dig record with 534, captained the squad, earned All-Midwest Region and All-C-USA First Team honors, and managed to excel in the classroom, graduating with a degree in Business Administration.
Her athletic résumé continued to grow beyond college. From 2003 to 2008, Drury Petkovic represented the United States, snagging both gold and silver medals at the NORCECA Championships and being recognized as one of the world’s top liberos at the 2006 World Championships. She was an alternate for the 2004 Olympic Games, showcasing her talent on a global stage.
After her national team career, Drury Petkovic returned home, quickly immersing herself in coaching. She gave private lessons, assisted at Assumption High School, took the reins as head coach with the Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Academy, and joined Indiana University Southeast as an assistant under her sister, Lesley Prather.
Outside of volleyball, Drury Petkovic is rooted in the Louisville community. She and her husband Sash, a city firefighter, are proud parents to two daughters, Hyla and Alexana, and a son, Beckett.
For Louisville, her promotion signals not just a new chapter for Drury Petkovic, but another step forward for a program with its eyes firmly on the top.
