Cliff Godwin came back home Thursday, taking over the head baseball coaching position at his alma mater, East Carolina.

For Godwin, it was the end of a circular route than began in 1997 when he was recruited out of nearby Greene Central High School by then ECU Coach Gary Overton.

An outstanding athlete on the high school level, Godwin played football, basketball and baseball at Greene Central, the latter sport under Jim “Rabbit” Fulghum, one of the top high school coaches in the state.

When he first arrived at East Carolina, Godwin told a welcoming audience on Wednesday, he didn't know anything about Omaha and the College World Series. But when Keith LeClair took over as the head coach for the Pirates, the new mentor built a hope that ECU would — one day — be a part of that series.

Now Godwin brings that same spirit back to Greenville and Pirate Country, echoing his former coach. But he doesn't want to just make it to Omaha, but win a national championship.

Following a red-shirt year as a freshman, Godwin moved into the position behind the plate, serving three years as team captain. As a senior, he was named All-East Regional by the American Baseball Coaches Association and earned first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors. As a senior, Godwin batted .322, hit 15 home runs, drove in 45 runs, 14 doubles and drew 23 walks in 57 games.

He also earned Academic All-America honors twice, a third-team selection in 1999 and a second-team selection in 2001.

As a player, Godwin helped East Carolina reach three NCAA regionals and one-super regional, earning the No. 6 national seeding his senior season. That year, just a heartbeat away from reaching LeClair's goal of Omaha, the Pirates lost twice to Tennessee when the Vols rallied in the late innings of both games.

Following his graduation, Godwin spent two years playing professionally with the Gateway Grizzlies in the Frontier League before turning his sights on coaching. He started that career by returning to his roots, as an assistant coach at nearby Kinston.

After a season with the Vikings, Godwin entered the collegiate ranks at UNC-Wilmington, helping the Seahawks to their first CAA title and a berth in the regionals. After another two seasons, he was named as the director of baseball operations at Vanderbilt — the team that won this season's College World Series.

Two years later, he was off again, moving to Notre Dame as an assistant coach. During his tenure there, the Fighting Irish won the 2006 Big East Tournament and gained an NCAA berth.

From 2006 to 2008, he served as assistant coach at LSU. His final year there, the Tigers won the Southeastern Conference West Division, won a regional and a super regional and advanced to the College World Series.

Godwin moved on from there to Central Florida, as an assistant his first year and as associate head coach the next year. He also served as recruiting coordinator, again helping that team to the NCAA regionals before leaving to take a position at Mississippi.

In four seasons at Ole Miss, Godwin was again recruiting coordinator as the Rebels won the SEC West, made three regionals and one super regional and advanced to this year's College World Series.

In each of his positions, Godwin became known as an outstanding recruiter.

In naming Godwin, Director of Athletics Jeff Compher said he had an almost immediate bond with Godwin after meeting him for his interview in Omaha during the Series.

Godwin wasted little time in getting the crowd of supporters into his hand.

“I want to get Clark-LeClair rockin' again,” he told them, bringing on cheers.

Godwin said he didn't expect things to happen overnight but his goals were to win championships in the American Athletic Conference, earn regional berths, win them, win super regionals and win the Series.

Calling himself a “relentless recruiter,” he said he would be embarking on that road immediately.

He also spelled out what he expected from himself, his staff and his players — using “Pirates” as an acronym.

“P” stands for purpose, both on the field and off. He expects his charges to be their best on the field and off, including in the classroom.

“I” is for integrity, performing on every platform of their lives in a way that shines light on themselves, their school and their program.

“R” is for responsibility, taking on the task of improving as players and students, and going into the community to help wherever possible, at elementary schools, for the underprivileged and in other ways.

“A” is for attitude, again both on and off the field, performing in a way that lets players learn in their sport and in the classroom.

“T” is for toughness, saying his teams might not be as talented as others, but they would tougher than anyone they play.

“E” is for excellence, striving to be the best they can in all areas.

And “S” is for selflessness, putting team before themselves, playing for the name on the front of their jerseys and not the name on the back.

Sounds like a good thing. Welcome home, Coach Godwin.