Julio Velasco

Julio Velasco (born 9 February 1952) is an Argentine-Italian volleyball coach and former professional player. He is currently the head coach of the Italy women's national volleyball team, which he led to victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2025 World Championship.

During his career, Velasco has coached several national teams to podium finishes. He has won two Olympic medals (one gold and one silver), three World Championships (becoming the first – and so far only – coach to win both the men's and the women's titles), three European Championships, two Asian Championships, three Mediterranean Games medals (two gold and one silver), and a gold medal at the Pan American Games. He has also claimed eleven additional international titles.

In club competitions, Velasco has won four Argentine championships, four Italian championships, three Italian Cups, one Italian Super Cup, and one CEV Cup Winners' Cup.

In 2005 he was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.