It’s been an active summer filling positions within the athletic department at Central College, and at the center of it all has been interim Athletic Director Eric Van Kley. Van Kley says the Dutch athletic programs have been fortunate to draw in coaches from several high profile positions – something he thinks is a credit to the personnel and students already working hard in Pella.

“I think the thing – and it kind of sounds cliche – is the people that we have here,” said Van Kley. “I think once they set foot on Central’s campus and they get to know our faculty, they get to know our administration, they get to know the kids that we have the opportunity to serve – I think they genuinely realize what a special place it is and how fun it is to work at a place like this. I think it’s the people that make Central special. It’s not a flashy answer, but it’s the truest thing I can say, and it makes my job fun every day working with those people.”

The announcement earlier this week of Craig Douma as Central’s new men’s basketball coach was the most recent addition, but the Dutch have also added new assistants in women’s basketball, track and field, and strength and conditioning, among others.