Making the transition from the college game to the high school game, Joe Steinkamp is excited for his first season as head coach of the Pella Christian boys basketball program.

Steinkamp spent the last 20 years coaching college basketball, including 18 of them at Central College. Most recently, Joe spent three years leading the Dutch men’s basketball program, and was the American Rivers Conference coach of the year in 2023. With the Central men, Steinkamp posted a 57-28 record, won the college’s 18th conference title in 2023, and led the program to their 12th NCAA Division III tournament berth last winter. Getting ready to start his first season on Eagle Lane next week, Joe says he has enjoyed working with the Pella Christian boys in their early season practices. 

“They’re a really fun group. They really care about each other. I think we’ve shown great intensity in our early practices, and just really trying to put a lot of things in. It’s crazy how few practices you actually have before that first game, so we’re really trying to install some new concepts and some new strategies, but the guys have been great. They really seem to pick things up quickly. They’re a smart group and they’re just really fun to coach because they treat each other so well.”

The Pella Christian boys basketball team opens the season on Monday, December 1st on the road at PCM.