Sanford Sports Academy hires Casey Frandsen in Rapid City
Oct. 1, 2026
Contact:
David Brown
Sanford Health Media Relations
605-366-2432 / david.brown@sanfordhealth.org
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Sanford Sports has hired long-time coach and trainer Casey Frandsen to lead the newly-established Sanford Sports Academy basketball program in Rapid City.
Frandsen brings more than 20 years of coaching and player development experience, most recently serving as basketball director and lead trainer at E3 Sports Complex in Rapid City. The Complex was acquired by Sanford Sports in August.
Prior to his time at E3, Frandsen served as both head JV and assistant varsity coach at James Valley Christian School in Huron, SD. Before moving to South Dakota, he spent more than a decade operating Next Step Basketball in the state of Washington, providing individual, small group and team training.
“My coaching and training philosophy is built on strong basketball fundamentals while emphasizing hard work, confidence, and enjoyment of the game,” Frandsen said. “I believe confidence is essential to player development, allowing young athletes to play instinctively, make decisions without hesitation, and perform skills at game speed. The goal is to make training and practice directly translate into confident, effective play.”
“As Sanford Sports expands, Casey is the perfect person to lead our basketball program in the Black Hills,” said Todd Kolb, Sanford Sports Academy director. “The level of competition across the state has increased tremendously and we’re excited for Casey to continue elevating our local youth in western South Dakota.”
A highly accomplished high school player, Frandsen earned Washington 1A Player of the Year and State Tournament MVP honors twice while starring at Toutle Lake High School in Toutle, WA. He continued his career collegiately at the University of Portland from 2001-2004, scoring more than 1,000 points and set the school’s career three-point record in three seasons with Pilots.
Sanford Sports announced its expansion into the Black Hills region in March.
About Sanford Sports
Sanford Sports is the modern athletics arm of Sanford Health, the premier rural health system in the United States. Rooted in science and health care, Sanford Sports offers a combination of programs, services, events, facilities and partnerships intended to make active lifestyles accessible and rewarding for people of all ages and abilities. Based on the 500-acre Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sanford Sports has been changing the way athletes play for 25 years. With operations in three states, more than one million athletes use Sanford Sports facilities each year. Visit sanfordsports.com for more information.
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