Come spring there will be a new face in the Raven dugout, with longtime head coach Chris Garrison stepping down and Kentwood’s Jon Aarstad taking over the reigns of the Auburn Riverside baseball program.

After leading his team to a state tourney appearance and a 15-11 record this past season, 16-year head coach Chris Garrison turned in his resignation.

“I’ve had a wonderful experience,” Garrison said. “I’ve coached all three of my kids through the program. I’ve had great relationships. I just felt it was time. I love the game and I just wanted to provide an opportunity for someone else to come in and coach. It was just the right time to move on, my last kid (Kell Garrison) just graduated this last year.”

This year’s state tourney appearance – in which the Ravens went 1-1, with a 4-3 win against Walla Walla and a 10-1 loss to Richland – was the team’s second trip to the big dance. In 1999 the Ravens went 1-1 in the tourney with a 7-2 win over Stadium and a 8-3 loss to Hudson’s Bay.

Although Garrison will not be handling the head coaching duties for the Ravens, he will still be teaching at the school and hopes to help out Aarstad with the baseball team.

“It’s been great, but I just want to coach and not take care of all the logistics,” he said. “My hope is to be there another 16 years. If Jon will have me, I’ll be there and help him with the program.”

For Aarstad, who will be just the second baseball head coach in school history, the move to Auburn Riverside brings him closer to his home in Lake Tapps.

“I live five minutes from there,” Aarstad said. “My commute will be going from 70 minutes a day down to 10.”

Aarstad inherited a strong Conqueror baseball program eight years ago, and helped transform it into one of the best in the state. In eight years, Aarstad, who teaches math, compiled a record of 134-60, a mark that includes a state title in 2010 and a third-place finish in 2006.

The Conquerors have advanced to the state playoffs in seven of the last eight years under Aarstad.