Sanford Sports Academy announced today that longtime Rapid City volleyball coach Brenna Block will serve as the director of its newly‑established volleyball program. The hire comes as the academy expands its youth‑sports offerings throughout the Black Hills region.
Block brings local experience and national credentials
Before joining Sanford Sports, Block was the director of volleyball at the E3 Sports Complex, a facility that Sanford Sports acquired in August. Her résumé also includes work with USA Club Volleyball in North Texas and the operation of her own skills‑development camps across South Dakota.
Block grew up playing the sport in Nebraska and Texas, training under former college coaches John Cook of the University of Nebraska and Donna Martin of the University of North Texas. She earned all‑state honors as a setter in high school and briefly walked on to the West Texas A&M volleyball team before a career‑ending injury forced her to shift to coaching.
Program focused on character as well as competition
“I’m excited for the opportunity to expand volleyball in western South Dakota,” Block said. She added that the academy’s mission is to develop athletes who compete with integrity, train with relentless effort, and pursue excellence through discipline and accountability. “We value the process as much as the outcome, and we measure success not just in wins, but in the kind of people our athletes become,” she explained.
Sanford Sports Academy director Todd Kolb praised Block’s philosophy, noting that it aligns perfectly with the program’s values. Kolb said the academy’s growth in the Black Hills is about more than offering additional sports options; it is also about providing youth with coaches and mentors who can elevate their success on and off the court.
Sanford Sports’ broader expansion
Sanford Sports announced its expansion into the Black Hills region in March, adding volleyball to its roster of academy sports in Rapid City. The move reflects the company’s commitment to delivering high‑quality, values‑driven athletic programs that support families and strengthen community ties.
Local parents and athletes have welcomed the news, seeing the new program as a chance for young people to develop both athletic skill and character under experienced guidance. The academy plans to field multiple teams for various age groups, with tryouts slated for early next year.
With Block at the helm, the Sanford Sports Academy volleyball program aims to become a model of disciplined competition and personal growth for the youth of Rapid City and the surrounding western South Dakota communities.
Original reporting: KOTA (Gray) – local — read the source article.
