Completing the Circle - Program's first All-American has new glance at Mustangs

Views and viewpoints can differ in many ways - locations, events, how someone gets to a destination - the list goes on and on.

Erin Baker's Morningside University glance has changed less than 10 feet.

"I remember sitting in the other chair," she reflected as she pointed across her desk. "Coming in to talk with (former head) Coach (Alisha) Knowler about just about anything as an athlete."

"Now, here I am on the other side," she added. "It's very surreal."

Baker became the school's fourth head. She moves into some large shoes after Knowler's final season at the helm featured 2022 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and Northwest Regional championships.

Her calm gaze doesn't change much when asked about expectations for 2023 and beyond.

"I'm excited about what lies ahead," she said. "I actually began coaching at a high school when I was still competing here. The interest in coaching has always been there. It's just such a dream to be able to come back to Morningside and do so."

"There is such a difference between coaching high school to college dance," she added. "There is more involvement with parents and leadership to work through step-by-step direction for high school teams. In just one week here at Morningside, I've seen these women put their heads together and work very well. I'm so impressed by the positive energy they carry with them. Each of them has a willingness to participate and lead. They step forward to help me with things I might be missing and are willing to share their ideas either by visiting me in the office, texting or even calling. Practice so far has been great as they show up early and help me get things organized so we can get to work."

It can be said the team is a mirror image of its new head coach. Baker starred as the program's first National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' All-American in 2015. She understands the amount of work and commitment it takes to get to the top level.

"I remember the All-American competition and the work that went into it," she reflected. "We got the routine about one month before the event, so there was plenty of extra time and hard work that we had to do on our own to reach the goal."

Baker is taking that same intensity into her coaching role no matter what the situation.

"I have never recruited before but I find it to be an exciting opportunity to tell so many prospective student-athletes about Morningside and what makes it special," she noted. "I just want the right caliber of athlete to join the program."

"The returners have been incredible," she continued. "They all understand what needs to be done to be ready for football and doing it without any hesitation so we are ready when the season starts. I'm really looking forward to how the entire year plays out."

A sense of controlled excitement - much like a student-athlete who performed an All-American worthy routine during her collegiate career and is coming full circle to do the same as a head coach.