Chelsea Field Hockey coach Corey Block has been named State Girls Field Hockey Coach of the Year by the Michigan High School Athletic Coaches Association (MHSCA).
The statewide honor recognizes long-term program success, leadership and contributions to high school athletics and the community. According to the MHSCA, Block’s selection reflects the high standard of excellence maintained by Chelsea Schools and the broader Chelsea community.
Chelsea High School Athletic Director Eric McCalla said Block’s dedication “sets an incredible standard of excellence for Chelsea Schools.”
A graduate of Chelsea High School, Block continued her field hockey career at Michigan State University, where she became a two-time team captain. As a defender for the Spartans, she helped lead the team to a Big Ten championship and multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.
During her collegiate career, Block earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Academic Squad. As a senior, she received the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award and was one of 38 players nationwide selected to participate in the 2012 NFHCA Senior Game.
Following her graduation from Michigan State, Block served as a volunteer assistant coach at Ohio University while earning her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She now works as a physical therapist and sports-certified specialist, bringing playing experience, coaching knowledge and expertise in athletic health and rehabilitation to the athletes she coaches.
Block has also been a foundational member of Pinnacle Field Hockey since the club’s inaugural season in 2009. She currently coaches Pinnacle’s U16 and U19 athletes, helping prepare players to compete at the high school, collegiate and national levels. In 2025, Block was among the Pinnacle coaches recognized by the NFHCA with its inaugural Club Coaching Staff of the Year Award.
At Chelsea, Block has helped continue the community’s field hockey tradition. She was part of the coaching staff that guided the Bulldogs to the 2024 Michigan Division II state championship.
“I believe in the power of sport for young women, and coaching is how I can best give back to the sport that has opened so many doors for me,” Block said. “Both my parents, Leslie and Roxy, are role models for growing the game and teaching a love for it through coaching. Transitioning from a player on the inaugural Chelsea co-op club, the Washtenaw Whippets, to a coach of the newly adopted Chelsea school team has been a rewarding, full-circle opportunity.”
“My goal has been to pay forward the immense dedication and love for the game that my coaches gave me and to build integrity, resilience and confidence in my athletes, just as my coaches did for me,” Block continued. “I have had the privilege of having many amazing mentors throughout my coaching career, and to me, this award speaks to what the field hockey community does for the next generation.”
Block will be recognized alongside 28 other coaches and athletic directors at the MHSCA State Awards Luncheon on Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Great Hall Banquet & Convention Center in Midland. Tickets for the luncheon will be available beginning Oct. 1 at MHSCA.org.
The MHSCA is a 71-year-old organization representing nearly 25,000 coaches and athletic administrators across the state, with a mission of promoting educational values through interscholastic athletics.
Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Sept. 12 and has been updated with additional background on Coach Block’s playing and coaching career.
