Premier Academy's Brett Garner Named 2026 AVCA Thirty Under 30 Honoree

Published May 2026 | Originally announced March 2026

We are thrilled to share some exciting news from earlier this spring — Premier Academy's own Associate Club Director, Brett Garner, has been named one of the American Volleyball Coaches Association's (AVCA) 2026 Thirty Under 30 Award recipients in the Club category.

The AVCA Thirty Under 30 program recognizes up-and-coming coaches across different sectors of volleyball, from head coaches to volunteer assistants to club directors. This year's honorees were required to be 30 years of age or younger as of December 31, 2025. Brett, who joined Premier Academy almost four years ago, was selected among an elite group of club volleyball coaches from across the country — a testament to the hard work and dedication he brings to our program every single day.

Brett Garner, Premier Academy Associate Club Director

Since joining our staff, Brett has taken on a variety of roles and steadily grown into one of the cornerstones of our organization. Most visibly, he has served as the head coach of our Girls 15-Trabuco, for three consecutive seasons, compiling an impressive record of 40-17 in his most recent campaign. In addition, this year, he has assumed the roll of the head coach of our Girls 16-Kinsei team for the latter half of the season. Beyond his on-court coaching, Brett has been instrumental in building our club's pipeline through our Junior Premier program, which serves more than 500 youth athletes annually, and has played a key role in recruiting new athletes to Premier Academy.

Brett's contributions extend well beyond the gym walls. He has been an active participant in our community outreach initiatives, partnering with local nonprofits to provide volleyball opportunities at little to no cost for at-risk youth in our region. He has also served as the lead trainer and point person for camps held throughout the state of Ohio — bringing his passion for the game to players at every level of development.

In addition to his coaching duties, Brett serves as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for our program — another example of his versatility and commitment to the total development of our athletes.

We are proud that Premier Academy has been a part of Brett's growth as a coach and a leader, and that this recognition reflects the caliber of staff we work to bring to our athletes and their families. With 379 college commitments produced over our 31-year history, Premier Academy has always believed that developing great coaches is just as important as developing great players — and Brett is living proof of that philosophy.

Brett's long-term goal is to coach at the collegiate level, and we have had the privilege of playing a small part in helping him build toward that future. This AVCA honor is a well-deserved milestone along that journey.

Congratulations, Brett. We are incredibly proud of you.

To view the full list of 2026 AVCA Thirty Under 30 honorees, visit avca.org.