PELLA— Conor Riordan will lead the Central College men's basketball team following the departure of veteran coach Joe Steinkamp.
           
Riordan (REER-den), who joined the Dutch staff as assistant coach in 2022, will serve as interim head coach of a squad coming off an NCAA Division III tournament appearance, according to Eric Van Kley, vice president for athletics. Steinkamp resigned to accept the head coaching position at Pella Christian High School, where his son is a squad member.
           

During Steinkamp and Riordan's three years together, the Dutch have posted a 57-28 record, winning Central's 18th conference title in 2023. This past season, Central captured the American Rivers tournament crown, earning the program's 12th NCAA Division III tournament berth and finishing with a 17-12 record.
           
"I'm very honored and very excited," Riordan said. "I think we've built something pretty special here these last three years. We've got a really great foundation with a lot of great guys and we're excited about the newcomers coming in. We're coming off an NCAA tournament and a lot of wins the past three years and are excited to carry the momentum forward."
           
Van Kley saluted Steinkamp for a highly successful tenure and his longtime commitment to the program.
           
"We are deeply grateful to Joe Steinkamp for all he's done as a player and staff member at Central," Van Kley said. "He's an outstanding coach and beyond that, he's poured his heart into the men's basketball program, which he's leaving in a much better place. This was an incredibly emotional decision for him because he loves his players and he loves Central, but his new opportunity will allow him to spend more time with his family. Yet I know he will remain a passionate fan of the Dutch.
           
"At the same time, we are tremendously enthused about the team's future and what Conor Riordan can do as head coach," Van Kley said. "He and Coach Steinkamp have put the program in a tremendous position for future success. We have some exciting young players who we think can help take Central men's basketball to even greater heights."
           

Steinkamp, a 2003 Central graduate and former Dutch co-captain, spent 10 years as an assistant coach in the program and later served as head women's basketball coach from 2017-22. He returned to the men's program as head coach in 2022 and was named the American Rivers coach of the year in 2023.
           
"It's been an honor to coach at Central after playing there and now coaching for almost 20 years," Steinkamp said. "I wasn't looking for a job but once we started talking about this, I got excited about getting to be around my family more. That's important to me.
           
"But I'm forever grateful to Eric Van Kley for hiring me and for all the support and friendship he's provided me. I've been really fortunate to coach so many great guys and be a part of their lives. I value those relationships. And I'm grateful for all the awesome people I was able to be around, and the coaches I was able to work with and learn from."
           
Riordan said Steinkamp played an outsized role in preparing him for his new spot on the Dutch bench.
           
"I can't thank Joe enough for what's he done for me," Riordan said. "He's genuinely changed my life in so many ways. As a coach, I've learned a lot of basketball things on strategy, how to manage a team and build a culture but more so as man, in how to conduct yourself and how to invest in the people around you."
           
Riordan was a two-time CSC Academic All-America® honoree at Simpson College and a finalist for the Jostens Trophy as the NCAA Division III player of the year. He was a three-time American Rivers all-conference guard, finishing with 1,533 points. A three-year team captain at Ankeny High School, Riordan returned there as sophomore team coach in 2020-21 before becoming a graduate assistant at Midland University (Neb.), where he earned a master's degree.
           
"I've been around this league for seven years of my life as a player and a coach," Riordan said. "I feel like I know what it takes to be successful in the conference and at the national level. I'm excited to really get to work because that's what it takes to be good in this league. It's really competitive, but I feel ready to take on the challenge."
           
Steinkamp is confident that Riordan will shine as head coach.
           
"I think he's a star," Steinkamp said. "He's great. He's just so smart, so organized. And the guys love him."
           
While Riordan said the Dutch will continue their aggressive style of play, there will be some changes necessitated by the graduation of 6-foot-10 center Joshua Van Gorp, a three-time all-America honoree and Central's all-time leading scorer.
           
"I'm pretty big on playing to our strengths as a team," Riordan said. "Obviously, with Josh graduating, we probably will look a little bit different so it'll be fun to try some new things but at the same time, continue to incorporate some of those things that were successful the past few years into our offensive and defensive schemes."
           
And the Dutch will continue to set ambitious goals.
           
"I think we've hopefully set the standard within our program to continue to be contenders in this league and for national bids year in and year out," Riordan said. "I think Central is equipped to win with our great campus, great academics and great administration support. I appreciate everything all the people who have come before me have done to get the program in this sport and I hope I can do right by them to keep moving it forward."