Jordan Printy has plenty of great memories from his years as a basketball player and student at Linn-Mar High School.

Now he's returned to Linn-Mar as a young teacher and coach, ready to help create memories for the next generation of Lions.

Printy, 23, has been hired as a social studies teacher and student supervisor at the high school and he'll also be an assistant coach with the boys basketball team this season.

Printy helped the Lions win the Class 4A state title in 2007 when he was a senior. He averaged 18 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds and was named all-state.

Printy played for Chris Robertson at Linn-Mar and now has joined his staff.

"It brings back some good memories," Robertson said. "He's excited, and we're all excited to have him."

The Lions had an opening on their staff when Tony Nichol left to become the girls basketball coach at Solon High School. They also had an opening for a social studies teacher.

"Coach Robertson contacted me that they had an open spot and it just kind of worked out," Printy said. "Coaching is something I've always wanted to do.

"I love basketball, and when the time came when I stopped playing I knew I wanted to get involved in coaching. This is a great start for it."

Printy, a 6-foot-4 guard, played Division I college basketball at Indiana State University and graduated this past May with a teaching degree. He finished his career with 831 points, 234 rebounds and 190 assists and ranks second in school history with 215 3-pointers.

Printy helped the Sycamores make the NCAA tournament in 2011 when he was a junior. They played Syracuse in the opening round in Cleveland.

"You watch March Madness and you dream of playing in it and it worked out well," he said. "It was awesome. It was a lot of fun, something I'll always remember."

Printy carried a 3.71 GPA at Indiana State and was honored as a first team Scholar-Athlete in the Missouri Valley Conference. He took basketball and his classes seriously in high school and college, and now he's in a position to influence other young men and women.

The school year began this past Wednesday at Linn-Mar. Printy had to stand in front of his first class and introduce himself to high school students who are only a few years younger than he is.

"It was fun," he said. "It's fun to work with the kids and it's been good so far. It's something I have a passion for. I've enjoyed the start of the school year at Linn-Mar and I can definitely see myself coaching for awhile."

Printy considered playing pro basketball in another country, but jumped at the chance to become a teacher and coach at Linn-Mar. "As a player you want to play as long as you can, but at the same time I knew that I also wanted to get into coaching," he said.

Printy's younger sister, Jaime, will be a senior on the University of Iowa women's basketball team this season. She is recovering from a knee injury and Jordan is looking forward to seeing her play for the Hawkeyes this season.

Overall, Printy feels he got the most out of his abilities as a student and athlete and is ready for the next chapter.

"It was great," he said. "I couldn't have asked for a better high school and college career. I'm happy the way things worked out.

"I had a great experience as a player at Linn-Mar. I understand the tradition that's been there the last 10 years or so. I'm just excited to be working with Coach Robertson and get this thing going."