The opening games of the 2009-2010 basketball season are just around the corner, and for the Pella girls basketball program, this season marks the beginning of a new era. Jared Garland will now coach the Lady Dutch, following the retirement of Hall of Fame Coach Mike Vint. Garland worked as an assistant coach under Vint, and says that knowledge should help him in his rookie season.

“You know, that’s one thing that helps. I’ve been able to be around the program for six or seven years now, and I know the way that Coach Vint did things, and so it’s good to see the foundation of the program and then just keep adding to that.”

Garland is hoping to continue the success of a program that finished 24-1 last season. The Lady Dutch open up their schedule with a big game in Huxley on Tuesday. Ballard is the defending State Champion in Class 3-A.