Brandy Salonga of Rockton has been named the new Talons Women’s Volleyball coach at Blackhawk Technical College.

“I have been coaching club volleyball for a year now. I have also coached adult military volleyball teams overseas in Japan and England,” Brandy said. “I enjoy playing and coaching very much, so the next step was to coach college. I'm very excited for this season.”

Salonga served in the Army National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan from 2008-2009. While in the military, she lived in Japan and England and traveled the world. She worked as a civilian for the military in England. 

When she returned to the U.S., she said she renewed her love for softball and volleyball through coaching and playing. She currently plays travel softball through One Nation and plays recreation volleyball.

Nile Finney, Blackhawk’s Athletic Director, said Salonga’s leadership will help guide the team forward and allow the team to grow.

“This season, we anticipate a lot of growth within our program. Our players will be led by our new coach, Brandy, who comes with a wealth of experience that I believe will significantly benefit our team’s success. Her extensive expertise and knowledge will provide us with a competitive edge,” Nile said. “We have a handful of returners for next season. I believe their commitment to the program has helped build and maintain an atmosphere that fosters teamwork and sportsmanship that will help us win matches this upcoming season.”

Salonga’s coaching philosophy is focused on encouragement and skill development.

“I aim to teach new techniques to players who may not have height advantage or can't seem to get certain techniques down,” she said. “I learned a lot playing volleyball in Japan because Japanese players have a lot of heart and love for the sport. The shortest player can hit a ball with precision and accuracy. I like to try to implement those techniques to this sport and bring more skill to the U.S. players. I motivate athletes by implementing those techniques and making it exciting to learn new things and improve their style.”

At home, Salonga has two dogs, four cats, and three children, aged 14, 10, and 7.