Vyacheslav Platonov began his volleyball career playing for the Russian club teams SKIF, SKA and Spartak from 1954-1967. As his playing career drew to a close, he graduated from the Pedagogical Institute in Leningrad. He coached the club teams, Spartak and Automobilist, between 1967 and 1989. He coached Automobilist to Gold Medals in the USSR Championship in 1983 and 1989.

Selected as coach of the Junior National Men’s Team in 1971, he coached the Junior Team to Gold Medals in the European Championships in 1971, 1973 and 1975. Platonov was appointed head coach of the Russian National Men’s Team after the stunning defeat of the Russians by Poland in the 1976 Olympic Games.

He coached the Russian National team three separate times (1977-1985, 1990-1992, and 1995-1997.) The team won Gold Medals at the 1978 World Championship and at 1980 Olympic Games. Platonov was named Best Coach in the World in 1981.

He coached the Russian National Team to a Gold Medal at the 1982 World Championship and Gold Medals at the World Cup in 1977, 1981 and 1991. In addition, the team won Gold Medals at the European Championship in 1977, 1981, 1983, 1985 and 1991. He was again named Best Coach in the World in 1991.

After coaching the Finnish National Men’s Team from 1992-1994, he returned to the Russian National Team in 1995. He retired to coach Automobilist, where his coaching career began and earned special mention as Best Men’s Team Coach of the 20th Century.