After more than three decades on the sidelines for the Pella Christian boys basketball team, Marv Van Wyk has announced that this season was his last on Eagle Lane. 

Van Wyk has been a staple of the Eagles program, serving as assistant coach under Jerry Nikkel, Larry Hessing, and JD Boer for 31 years, before taking on the head coaching role this season. During his time at Pella Christian, Marv experienced 16 State Tournament appearances and was a part of the last Eagles team to win the State Championship, which was a 68-63 victory over Council Bluffs St. Albert in 1993. Van Wyk said that the decision to stop coaching at Pella Christian was difficult to make, but added that it was time for him to move on from coaching on Eagle Lane.

“I’m just going to really miss coaching at Pella Christian because I love, not just the basketball program, but the school itself is just an awesome place to be around and the people that are amazing. And I’m just going to miss that aspect of my life. Everybody has a time and a season, right, and it’s my time to move on and give room to somebody else.”

Athletic Director Dan Branderhorst says the search for the next leader of the Pella Christian boys basketball program is underway.