Submitted photo Former ORCS boys basketball coach Jeremy Feller was named the new boys basketball coach for Bishop Ryan Tuesday.

Jeremy Feller wasn’t ready to be a spectator.

Now, there is another plot twist in the Bishop Ryan and Our Redeemer’s rivalry.

Five months after announcing his retirement from coaching and stepping down as the athletic director at ORCS, Feller was announced as Ryan’s boys basketball coach on Tuesday.

“I am going to be at the games anyways, why not be on the hardwood for a couple more years?” Feller said. “It was getting hard thinking about not coaching next year. So, I’m excited to extend this, however many more years this will ride out.”

Feller, who was the boys basketball coach at ORCS for nine seasons, takes over for Brock Teets.

Teets resigned in August citing an increased workload with his company, Integrity Viking Funds, as the reason for his departure. Going full circle, former Ryan basketball assistant Mark LaCroix stepped into Feller’s former head coaching job at Our Redeemer’s in July.

With Feller’s signing, the music likely stops on the game of musical chairs that has been playing for the District 12 boys basketball coaches this offseason. And, all things considered, it was two rather unexpected shake-ups for the Class B Minot-area programs since Ryan and ORCS have had success recently.

Over the last two seasons, the crosstown rivals have faced off for the Region 6 title.

“It will be an adjustment, that’s for sure,” Feller said. “There were great kids and parents at Our Redeemer’s. We went through a lot of challenges early with finding ways to win. Once we found that, we were able to keep that consistency. Now, walking into a program that’s been consistent at winning for a long time, it’s just a different atmosphere and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Feller took over a two-win Knights’ team in his first season with the program and, over time, turned them into a perennial powerhouse competing for district, region and state titles. Our Redeemer’s 2015-16 campaign recorded a program-high 24 victories and took second at the state tournament.

Ryan knocked off ORCS in last season’s Region 6 title game (55-47) and in the District 12 championship (49-44). The Lions placed sixth at the state tournament last year.

“Ryan and Our Redeemer’s have been in championship games the last couple of years,” Feller said. “I think if we both teams stay healthy, then we could both be right back there… But, you always have teams that are able to knock you off.”

With Feller’s track record, Ryan’s athletic director Roger Coleman is confident they got the right man for the job.

“I think he brings great leadership to the program,” Coleman said. “With what he has done in the past and the talent level that I know we have here with great kids and athletes, I think everybody here is definitely expecting success and I think we will achieve some success this year.”

As for the rivalry, Coleman added: “I’m not a big rivalry guy to be honest with you. In the coaching realm, I think that might be internalized between them. But, as far as I see, I want the best for our kids and Jeremy (Feller) is that for us at this moment.”

Feller took a similar stance, but did acknowledge the weirdness of the situation.

“Obviously, it will add a little bit of fun into the mix for the people,” he said. “But, for me, it’s just going to be another game that is important to win, as is any district game. If you put too much talk into one game and you forget about somebody, that comes back to bite you.”

As an added perk with Feller keeping his current position with the Minot State University Foundation, Feller only needs to venture across the street for Ryan practices and home game. Having prior experience coaching against his new team is certainly beneficial as well.

“Playing against them, you kind of know a little bit about them,” Feller said. “I haven’t seen a roster, but I’m excited to get moving.”

Alex Eisen covers Minot High School, Minot State athletics and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.