It was simply too great an opportunity for Auburn Riverside’s new baseball coach Jon Aarstad to pass up.

After eight years as the head coach of the Kentwood program – a stint that included a state 4A title and State Coach of the Year honors in 2010 – Aarstad means to work a bit of his mojo on the Ravens.

Aarstad takes over for Chris Garrison, who has retired after 16 years as the program’s only head coach.

“It was all family based,” Aarstad said of his decision to take the Ravens job. “I live five minutes from Auburn Riverside (at Lake Tapps). When the job opened up, I applied and was fortunate enough to get the job.”

Aarstad, who also teaches math at ARHS, attended Burlington High School, playing first base and pitching for Washington State Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame coach Jim Clem.

Inspired by Clem, who remains his mentor today, Aarstad knew early on that coaching was in his future.

“It was something I always wanted to be involved with,” he said.

After high school, Aarstad attended Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, where he helped lead the Vikings to a second-place finish in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Tournament in 1997 as the team’s closer. He set a NWAACC record with three wins in the tournament.

After two years at Big Bend, he transferred to Central Washington University where he wrapped up his collegiate career.

In 2003, Aarstad took over the Kentwood program. He lead the Conquerors to seven state tournament appearances as well as a 134-60 career record in eight seasons.

Aarstad follows Garrison, who shared the South Puget Sound League North 4A Coach of the Year honors with him last year.

The transition has gone well.

“The staff alone at Auburn Riverside is phenomenal. They all get along and are really friendly,” Aarstad said. “The kids are awesome. They’re polite, well behaved and friendly. They’re just nice. … I love the administration and all the people I work with.”

On the diamond, Aarstad looks to continue a good thing. Auburn Riverside finished 15-11 and advanced to the state 4A quarterfinals last spring, the team’s first trip to the state tournament since 1999.

“It’s been an adjustment for the kids, as well as for me,” he said. “It’s been a while since I’ve had to come in and implement my preferences and the way things go. At the same time, it’s been different for the kids because they’ve had to change things. It’s been a culture shock for them. Everything they’ve done for the last two or three years is now changing on them.

“I’m sure it’s been tough, but the kids are resilient,” he said. “They’ve been working hard. They come to practice every day and try to get better. That’s a big point for me.”

Aarstad hopes his players catch on to his fundamental approach to the game.

“I’d like to think that I teach the game and teach the kids to play the game the right way,” he said. “It’s all about effort, mentally and physically. We don’t do anything exceptional. I’m not asking them to do anything they’re not physically or mentally able to do.

“We practice a lot at doing the little things that people don’t think about. I think that’s important in baseball, more important than just going out and trying to swing and throw and catch,” Aarstad said. “It’s the finer points of the game that I coach, and I think the kids have gone through the learning curve and are starting to pick up on that. So far, it’s been fun.”