Ivan Ivanov was born in the city of Kazanluk, Bulgaria and grew up in the town of Gurkovo, Bulgaria. In 1981, he joined the Greco-Roman wrestling program at the Sports School & Technical College in the city of Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Ivanov graduated in 1987 and was recruited by the Bulgarian World Class Army Wrestling Program (CSKA) in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he competed nationally and internationally from1987 to 1992.
Afterward, from 1993 to 1997, Ivan Ivanov competed for the Slavia Litex Wrestling Club in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he achieved many major accomplishments in the sport.
After being recruited to the United States by USA Wrestling to assist with its national and Olympic wrestling programs, Coach Ivanov was given the title of Gold Level Coach by the National Coaches Education Program in1999.
Soon after his decision to remain in the U.S. in 1999, Ivanov became the Head Coach of the TAC Wrestling Club in Salt Lake City, Utah, where Coach Ivanov developed multiple U.S. National Greco-Roman and freestyle champions from youth through the junior age-groups.
After his success in Utah, Ivanov was recruited again by USA Wrestling to be the Head Greco-Roman Wrestling Coach at the United States Olympic Training and Education Center in Marquette, Michigan, where he served from 2002 to 2009. During his tenure here, Coach Ivanov developed multiple world and Olympic medalists, which brought him great recognition as an elite coach and educator
In 2012, Ivan Radnev Ivanov was inducted with highest honors into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame of the United States of America in the category of Lifetime Distinguished Service and Achievement. This honor was bestowed for Ivan Ivanov’s many contributions as a world class coach, athlete, entrepreneur, and ambassador for the great sport of wrestling in America.
In 2022, Ivan was appointed as General Manager of US Greco-Roman Programs for USA Wrestling, by the National Governing Body for wrestling in the United States.
Building upon his vast athletic and coaching experience, Ivanov turned his focuses to innovation and entrepreneurship, making his vision of creating world-class, sportspecific training equipment and programs his new goal. Coach Ivanov used his extensive knowledge and experience to develop the 5 major Suples Training Systems: The Bulgarian Bag, Suples Gladiator Wall, H.I.R.T.S. (High Intensity Rope Training System), Suples Dummies, and the Suples Ball.
Suples products have since gotten great recognition and reception and are now used by clubs, schools, training centers, gyms, and even homes. Suples products have also been approved and used by the USA Greco-Roman National Team as well as the Olympic games!
Although he began the innovation and development of his Suples products in the United States, Coach Ivanov extended his branding of products and services to grow and achieve recognition internationally. In 2016, Suples was announced as the official Global Supplier for the International Amateur Wrestling Federation by United World Wrestling!
2004 – Nominated as an “Honored Citizen” of his home town of Gurkovo, Bulgaria.
2006 – Received U.S.A. citizenship.
2014 – Received the Bulgarian National Service for Protection Award from General
Totor Kodjeikov for providing training education for the use of Suples Training
Systems by the Bulgarian National Security Staff.
