Plans to bring the Riverland women’s basketball team back next year appear to be on track.

The school has announced that it has hired Douglas J. Waldner, of Hayfield, as the new women’s basketball coach.

Riverland announced earlier this month that it would not have a team this season after it was unable to hire a coach following the departure of long-time Blue Devils coach Suzy Hebrink earlier this year.

“I am very excited we were able to hire Doug,” said RCC Athletic Director David Lillemon in a press release. “He will bring us a new philosophy and energy to bring the women’s basketball program back for the 2016-2017 season. He will be focused on building an entire team with a lot of optimism.”

Waldner is currently the assistant basketball coach for the Rochester Community and Technical College women’s basketball team. He is also the founder and coach for the Southern Minnesota Wave boys and girls basketball teams along with serving as a coach for several youth teams.

The suspension of this year’s season is the first time any part of a season has been canceled since 2004-05, when injuries and ineligibility took its toll on the team and forced the cancellation of the second half of the season.