Kori Crutchfield is following a familiar path through her coaching career.

First, Crutchfield got a job teaching at her old elementary school, South Park. Then she coached softball at another alma mater, Vicksburg High. And now, she’s heading back to her college stomping grounds.

Crutchfield resigned from her job as VHS softball coach on Tuesday to become the women’s soccer coach at Hinds Community College. Crutchfield played soccer in high school and was on Hinds’ first team in 1998, but her only coaching experience was a stint at All Saints Episcopal School.

&#8220It’s just kind of taking those steps and roaming the halls I once went through,” Crutchfield said. &#8220Soccer is something I’ve always wanted to coach. I didn’t get an opportunity at Vicksburg to coach soccer.”

Crutchfield’s soccer opportunities at VHS were limited because of a successful coach – Kevin Manton, who has won five state championships – and a schedule conflict with softball. Squeezing in the time to even assist with the soccer program was difficult given the demands of running the softball teams.

Hinds athletic director Gene Murphy said he didn’t hold Crutchfield’s lack of soccer coaching experience against her when making the decision to hire her.

&#8220We recognized there were some circumstances at Vicksburg where she wasn’t able to coach soccer, but we really felt like she would be able to keep the program going in the direction coach (Patti) Johnson had it going in,” Murphy said. &#8220I think she’ll be able to make the adjustment.”

Crutchfield added that she wasn’t job-hunting during her time at Vicksburg, but did go after the Hinds job because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to coach on the college level.

&#8220This was an opportunity that presented itself. It fell in my lap, and it’s an opportunity I can’t pass up,” Crutchfield said. &#8220These opportunities don’t present themselves very often.”

At Hinds, the expectations will be lofty.

Johnson built a juggernaut from scratch in Raymond, leading the Lady Eagles to a 121-16 record in eight seasons. Under her tutelage, Hinds won seven state championships and eight region titles.

Individually, 14 All-Americans and 21 Academic All-Americans played for her. Johnson herself was named Region 23 Coach of the Year seven years in a row and the state coach of the year six times.

Johnson left Hinds to take a job closer to her family in Florida.

&#8220It’s going to be a big challenge, because I have some big shoes to fill. That’s going to be the challenge. Not only learning a new job, but also living up to the standard that’s been set.”

While Crutchfield faces her own challenge at Hinds, she’s leaving Vicksburg Warren athletic director Lum Wright Jr. with one of his own.

Wright had to fill 10 coaching slots at Warren Central last month, and still must find three to complete Vicksburg High’s staff before school begins next month.

In addition to Crutchfield’s departure from the softball program, there are two vacancies within Vicksburg’s football program.

&#8220I’ve interviewed five people, offered the job to two, and they accepted and then called back later and decided to decline it,” Wright said of the football openings, which were created when David Tadlock and Kevin Fillebaum left the program at the end of last season.

Assistant coach Toriano Wells was promoted to fill Tadlock’s defensive coordinator position, but there are still two openings. VHS head coach Alonzo Stevens said one of his needs was a defensive line coach – a job the former Alcorn State lineman can take over himself if it comes to that.

&#8220I’m not really worried about it because defense is my forte, if I have to,” Stevens said. &#8220If I have to, I can pull double duty.”