Pleasant Valley, AL Pleasant Valley, AL The long-time Pleasant Valley volleyball coach hopes to achieve the only thing she hasn’t yet achieved winning a state championship during her final season with the Raiders
By Joe Medley
Dana Bryant looks forward to years of watching her daughter Allie play volleyball in Gadsden State and her 10-year-old son Bryant play his part in the field of sports.
Prior to that the long-time Pleasant Valley volleyball coach hopes to leave a lasting legacy that includes one thing that she has never achieved … the state championship.
Bryant made public her acceptance on Saturday that what she has always been in the works … she will retire from coaching and teaching after 25 years of both.
It includes 17 seasons serving as Pleasant Valley’s Head coach of volleyball and 18.18 will be her final season. She’ll retire at the end of the 2023-24 school season.
“It’s been a blessing be able to accomplish what I’ve done and to be a part numerous people’s lives and be so grateful for every day that I’ve been able put into and enjoy what I do,” she said. “I’ll regret it but I’m eager to start the next chapter in my life..
“I’m eagerly anticipating this season of volleyball. I believe it’s an extremely promising season ahead and I’m hoping to bring home the only thing I’ve never done throughout my life and that’s the national championship.”
Bryant became the very first winner of 500 game at her home. She’s 519-265 and has 15 area championships, 15 appearances in regional competitions and eight Elite Eights. She also has four Final Fours, and two state runner-ups.
Husband David Bryant got his 500th victory as Pleasant Valley’s softball coach at the East Regional in May at Albertville.
Dana Bryant’s time as volleyball coach included an appearance as a state runner-up in 2022. In that year, the Raiders made it to their Class 2A final, but lost in the final to Calhoun County and area rival Donoho.
Pleasant Valley Returns all but one senior in 2022, Tori Turner.
Donoho took the final game 3-1 to win the state championship for the third time in four years and the first since the team was elevated to Class 2A in the course of the American High School Association’s “competitive equilibrium” policy for schools that are private. Pleasant Valley played the state quarterfinals as well as the semifinals and final, as flu was a constant presence on the team.
Dana Bryant was among the players who were injured in the final game.
“We were all so sick,” she said.
Dana Bryant made her name as a player with Pleasant Valley before doing it as coach. Her battles on the net with then-Alexandria star Brooke McCarley were must-see volleyball.
“I only remember her as a wall that I had to strike on,” Bryant said. “It was her job to stop me, and my goal was to overcome her.”
McCarley was a player in the football team of Auburn University, and Bryant played for Jacksonville State.
Bryant has taught his daughters Ashley, Anna and Allie at Pleasant Valley. Allie will turn a senior in the coming season as well. She has accepted an offer to play at Gadsden State. She is planning to sign with GSCC according to her mother.
“I’m truly eager to slow down a more and breathe,” Bryant said. “It’s been an up-and-down race over the last 25 years and I’d like to slow down just a more and become a mom.”
