Pella Christian athletic director Dan Branderhorst announced last Thursday that Brendan Foughty has been hired as the new head boys basketball coach. 

Foughty spent the past two seasons as head coach of the Eagles’ girls basketball team, helping lead a resurgence in the program’s success. During his tenure with the Pella Christian girls, Brendan posted a combined record of 18-28, which was the program’s best two year stretch since going 24-22 during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. Foughty said that it was difficult to make the decision to transition from the girls’ program to the boys’, but added that he’s excited for the opportunity. Brendan also said that while he won’t be leading the Pella Christian girls next season, he knows they are poised to continue getting better and to have success in the years to come.

“I feel like the program is in a good spot and there’s momentum. I told our girls that’s not momentum that I built, that’s momentum that they built by showing up and just buying into a vision and continuing to work. So, by no means is that going to stop just because I’m no longer going to be their coach. I’ll be their biggest supporter and biggest fan, obviously on game night’s I’ll be focused in a different way, but I most certainly will be cheering them on and wanting nothing but the most success for that program.”

Foughty takes over the boys’ program from Marv Van Wyk, who announced his retirement from coaching on Eagle Lane after more than three decades on the sidelines. An assistant at Pella Christian for 31 years, Marv took over the head coaching job this season and led the Eagles to a 10-14 overall record.