There’s been no denying Brent Aldridge’s competitive nature, but a dozen years ago he knew he needed a change.

As an assistant volleyball coach at Arizona State, there was a non-stop work schedule that included lengthy recruiting trips, not to mention an hour-long commute to work. With a growing family, Aldridge realized he could not continue to go on that path.

“I had no life,” Aldridge said. “All I did was work.”

A native of Iowa and an alumnus of the University of South Dakota, Aldridge had a desire to move closer to his roots and find an opportunity that allowed him to hunt and fish during the offseason.

“I needed a little better balance in my life,” Aldridge said.

He found a job at Northern State and has been a fixture at the university ever since.

The combination of being one of few South Dakota schools in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference along with often wearing the label as an underdog proved to be an ideal fit for the ultra-competitive coach, who relishes the opportunity for the Wolves to make a name for themselves.

“I think that’s Aberdeen and South Dakota in general,” Aldridge said. “There’s no pro sports team and so we’re kind of it. That’s what I tell recruits.”

And that’s another area where Aldridge tries to use the underdog role to his advantage.

“I love the area. I love the competition and I think that’s appealing,” Aldridge said. “Aberdeen, believe it or not, is not appealing to all young women.”

That’s OK with Aldridge, who does his best to lure the area’s best players to Northern. While the Wolves have featured players from different parts of the country and currently have a player from Poland, Aldridge feels that local recruits best fit the culture of the school.

“We make a living off the small-town kids,” Aldridge said. “Those kids are what I think this school’s about.”

And while some may not have the name recognition of players from metropolitan areas, Aldridge is more than willing to go to war with athletes who share the same competitive drive and underdog spirit that he possesses.

“We need those kids,” Aldridge said. “I said from day one, when I stepped on, we’re going to recruit the best South Dakota kid we can get.”

Aldridge has built the Wolves into one of the top teams in the country year in and year out with many of those in-state players.

Make no mistake, he demands excellence out of all his players, regardless of where they are from. Spots are earned, not guaranteed.

“If you’re uncomfortable being held accountable, I tell them – probably the worst recruiting pitch ever – don’t come here,” Aldridge said. “It’s true, because you’re going to be miserable, because no one’s ever held you accountable, and then I’m going to be miserable, because you’re miserable.”

Coaching can be a volatile profession, filled with the thrill of victory one night, followed by the agony of defeat the next. It’s a journey that carries plenty of preparation, planning and at times raw emotion.

“You’re dealing with 23 personalities,” Aldridge said. “Someone says, ‘Hey coaching’s not rocket science.’ No. It’s actually harder, because if you’re a rocket scientist, the chemicals don’t talk back. They don’t melt down. That in itself is a challenge that no one thinks about. When people come watch us play, they think it’s puppy dogs and rainbows. It’s not like that.”

Still, there is something about coaching that keeps Aldridge up late at night, watching hours of film, and always trying to find a better way.

“When I stop giving my best, I need to get out,” Aldridge said. “That’s someone’s career. My career is going to be longer than any of these players. I’ve always said when the candle flickers and finally goes out, you have to get out. It’s not fair to the players.”

As the leader of the pack, Aldridge sets for the tone for the program from practice to match day.

“I said to our kids, how you do anything is how you should do everything,” Aldridge said. “In practice, as soon as you walk into the gym, you’ve got to flip that switch. Me, it just never goes off.”

Until the offseason. Now, since his move to the Hub City, Aldridge has found time to get away from the sport, whether it be a hunting trip or fishing off the coast of Alaska.

“You have to find a balance in life,” Aldridge said. “I had Division I offers to be head coach, and I just chose not to.”

Aldridge has witnessed a remarkable growth in volleyball through the years, from the scoring system to positions on the floor.

“I’ve coached in the 15-point era, the 30-point era and the 25-point era,” Aldridge said. “I coached without the Libero, with the Libero, so it’s really quite interesting to see the evolution.”

And it’s safe to say the popularity of volleyball has never been greater than it is today. A record crowd of more than 92,000 spectators attended outdoor volleyball matches in Lincoln, Neb. this past fall.

“When you make it important, it becomes important,” Aldridge said. “And if you ignore what’s happening, then you’re just missing the point, I feel like. Because there’s an opportunity right now. It’s the number one sport for females in the United States.”

And along the way, Aldridge has changed with the sport as well.

“The 25-year-old me coaching was different than the 55-year-old me,” Aldridge said. “Probably for the better.”

While Aldridge said those around him will attest that he has gotten a bit more mellow in recent years, the competitive fire still burns strong and always will as long as he remains a head coach.

“I think if you’re competitive it never goes out,” Aldridge said, “and then when it does, then you’re not competitive anymore, and you need to get out.”