York, PA - For eight seasons, Cheryl Land was a part of one of the most successful girls' basketball programs in the state.

Now, the former York Catholic assistant coach hopes to carry over some of that success to a new challenge.

Land, 55, is set to take over as the new head coach at Eastern York. She has served as the Golden Knights coach on a volunteer basis since April, and could be officially approved by the Eastern York school board in July. She would replace Bob Heiser, who resigned in March after a 12-year run that produced 220 wins -- the most in the program's history.

For Land, a big draw was the chance to take on another head-coaching gig -- she spent one season at York Country Day in 2002-03. Land also has a built-in rapport with several current Eastern York players, having previously coached them on the AAU circuit.

"I love York Catholic," Land said. "I have such a deep regard for (Fighting Irish head coach) Kevin Bankos and (assistant coach) Mike Weaver.

"I did not want to look at it a year from now and say, 'I wish I had done that.' "

Land has served two stints as a coach in York Catholic's program. She spent the last six seasons as a varsity assistant.

Land also was an assistant in 2002 with the York City Noise, part of the short-lived Women's American Basketball Association.

She will inherit a program that has been among the area's most consistent. Eastern York finished 20-5 last season and

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claimed its second straight YAIAA Division III title.

"I'm certainly not going in there and starting over," Land said. "It's a very strong, pristine program that Bob has done a tremendous job with."
@johnsclayton; 771-2045