Three Premier Academy Coaches Selected for the Inaugural Jim Stone Rising Coaches Fellowship

Premier Academy is proud to announce that three of our own coaches — Brett Garner, Kristin Pedersen, and Daniel de la Rosa — have been selected as members of the inaugural Jim Stone Rising Coaches Fellowship, a selective, yearlong national program designed to identify, develop, and celebrate the next generation of volleyball leaders.

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Developed by The Art of Coaching Volleyball, the Junior Volleyball Association (JVA), and the Regions of USA Volleyball (RVA), the fellowship brings together a national cohort of emerging and established coaches for a full year of structured education, mentorship from master coaches, and connection with peers from across the country. Coaches were chosen through a nationwide nomination and selection process, which makes having three Premier Academy coaches selected a distinct point of pride for our program.

The fellowship is named in honor of Jim Stone, a longtime collegiate coach, national team leader, and educator whose thoughtful, detail-oriented approach shaped generations of players and coaches. Rooted in his belief that great coaching begins with thoughtful leadership and lifelong learning, the program is built to develop coaches not just as technicians, but as educators, decision-makers, and leaders of people.

Over the program year, fellows learn directly from a nationally recognized group of coaching mentors — including seven-time NCAA champion Russ Rose (Penn State), five-time NCAA champion John Dunning (Stanford), and three-time Olympic coach Terry Liskevych. The experience includes monthly guided learning modules, live mentor sessions, and small-group breakout workshops, along with full access to The Art of Coaching Volleyball’s library of more than 4,000 instructional videos, courses, and resources, and the opportunity to earn a Head Coach Certification.

Premier Academy General Manager Chad Rutkowski said, “Having three of our coaches selected for a national fellowship of this caliber speaks to the standard we hold at Premier. Brett, Kristin, and Daniel each embody what we ask of every coach here — a commitment to growing, learning, and making everyone around them better. Our athletes are the ones who ultimately benefit.”

This recognition reflects what we’ve always believed at Premier: the quality of an athlete’s experience begins with the quality of their coach. Everything Brett, Kristin, and Daniel take from this year of mentorship will flow directly back to the court and into the development of our athletes.

Please join us in congratulating Brett, Kristin, and Daniel on this well-deserved honor. Their commitment to growth is a reflection of everything Premier Academy stands for — and a promise of what’s still to come.