Black Hills State University Athletics

Derek Van Blarcom joined the Black Hills State University Strength and Conditioning staff during the fall of 2020.

He oversees the strength and conditioning efforts for the football, volleyball, softball, soccer, and golf teams at BHSU.

Before BHSU, Van Blarcom served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Youngstown State University where he assisted with the football team and oversaw strength and conditioning for track and field throwers, pole vaulters, women’s softball, and men’s tennis teams.

Prior to Youngstown State, Van Blarcom helped coach back-to-back winning seasons at Southeast Missouri State University for the first time in school history as a member of the FCS and completed back-to-back playoff appearances with a final 16 appearance in 2018 and Co-Conference OVC Champs in 2019. He also oversaw the strength and conditioning for Women’s Gymnastics and Track and Field while at SEMO.

Preceding his success at SEMO, Van Blarcom completed internships with Iowa State University wrestling and football as well as the University of Virginia football team. While at UV, he worked with 16 NFL players and helped coach a National Champion wrestler as well as multiple US World and Olympic team wrestlers.

Van Blarcom graduated with an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology-Exercise Science from Iowa State University. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education Administration from Southeast Missouri State University.

Van Blarcom is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the NSCA and holds a United States Weightlifting Level-1 certification. He and his wife, Amber, reside in Spearfish.