Chad Kerr made it a personal goal to find his way back.
Kerr knew after roaming the Truman State outfield from 1988-91 as an all-conference selection, he wanted to return to what was then known as the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
Twenty four years later, he has done just that, although it's now called the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Lincoln University made Kerr its fifth softball coach in program history Tuesday afternoon.
"I'm honored to coach in this conference. I almost feel like I've arrived," Kerr said in a phone interview. "A lot of coaches have goals of being Division I coaches, and that's fine, but I guess I feel I've come full circle."
Kerr had even penned his wishes to return to the conference of his playing days on his LinkedIn page: "Hopefully I can someday get closer to home possibly in the MIAA Conference of which I played baseball at Truman State."
He got that wish, becoming the first male softball coach at Lincoln. He replaces Nicole Stacey, who was in the role for five seasons.
"I commend coach Stacey," he said. "She worked her tail off and built a good foundation. Hopefully I can be a spark."
The Blue Tigers went 3-49 last season, failing to make it to the MIAA Tournament for the third straight season.
"Any improvement over three games over last year would be a victory," Kerr said. "Double digits would be a good stairstep to Year 2. Year 2 would hopefully be the breakout year. The administration wants to see progress in the program."
Kerr plans to use his recruiting connections across the midwest, Texas, southern California and even West Virginia, as he spent the past season at Alderson Broaddus University in Philippi, W.V.
At Alderson Broaddus, he coached the NCAA Division II program to a 21-17 record. Under Kerr, the Battlers finished in fifth place in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference with an 11-9 record and earned their first postseason berth in three seasons.
Kerr spent the previous three seasons at Central Christian College (NAIA) in McPherson, Kan., where his family still resides. He mentioned an obvious perk of his new place of employment - a more favorable five-hour drive compared to the 17-hour separation from his family while in West Virginia.
His daughter, Kiley, who played under her dad at Alderson Broaddus, will transfer to Lincoln and be eligible as a sophomore. Kerr also has another daughter, Chelsey, who is set to be a senior at McPherson High School. The opportunity to coach both of his daughters at the college level is intriguing.
"I get to watch their career. I've never forced them," said Kerr, who also has a son, Koby. "I tell them to explore all the options. Kiley had other offers, but she wanted me to be a part of her softball career.
"We turn off the dad-daughter thing and turn into player-coach. I get the best of both worlds. ... I'm probably more hard on her, and with playing time, she has to earn it like everyone. I have to win."
He has competitive coaching experience at the 16-under and 18-under levels with the D-Bat Mustang organization in Texas.
"I have a good reputation with recruiting services in (those areas)," Kerr said. "Recruiting has never been a problem."
He added convincing players to play in one of the "premier D-II conferences in the nation" will make his job easier.
Kerr's first point of business is to find a catcher that can make an immediate impact.
"Actually, a second wouldn't hurt, either," he said.
For Kerr, to have a successful program, there has to be a little bit of everything.
"I have a reputation that it's an enjoyable experience with a structural program. ... Devote everything to classroom, and then softball," Kerr said.