GLADSTONE — The Gladstone Braves boys basketball team will take the court this season with a new coach, Colin Immel, at the helm.

Immel — who noted his excitement for the start of the season — said basketball, from playing himself in Munising to coaching in Bark River-Harris at the JV level, is something that has been a constant in his life.

“I’ve been involved in the game of basketball my entire life,” Imell said. “I never really left it coming out of high school helping out with film or whatever. I’ve coached middle school boys, JV and now on to varsity.”

With the start of basketball practices just around the corner, Nov. 15, Imell has already had the chance to meet some of the players — several of whom were still finishing up work on the gridiron — he will be working with on the court.

“I’m not too familiar (with the team). I didn’t know anything about them before taking the job,” he said. “Now that we’ve run, maybe, about six open gyms, I’ve gotten to level with them pretty good.

“And just showing up to their football games — I wasn’t able to talk to them during their football games obviously — but some football players showed up to and they didn’t play because it was during football season but just to get to know each other, I think that’s pretty big.”

About a year ago, however, Imell was stepping away from coaching as he and his wife began a family together. However, one text message opened the door for him to join the Braves’ program.

“During last year’s season, my wife was pregnant, and so I actually resigned out at Bark River with the intention of not really coaching until (further) in the future,” he said. “All the sudden, I got a text that the varsity job was open and that they were reopening the JV and freshman jobs as well. I talked with my wife about it because we’ve started our family now, and we decided that I could put in for that job. And, I did.”

With this season resembling more of a normal high school basketball season compared to last year, Imell said the opening steps in the job have been going well.

“Everything’s been going smoothly. Especially with COVID, I haven’t heard any real big concerns,” he said. “I’m hoping we can stay away from the mask playing this year, but I think everything is running pretty smoothly. I’m just waiting for this dead period to get over with so we can start.

“I’m just looking forward to the year. I think it’s going to be a good year for us.”