FRANKLIN — For Jake Long, the chance to go home again was the kicker that sealed the deal.

Long officially was hired Monday night by the Franklin Board of Education to take over the baseball program from Matt Kinser, who resigned after 11 years.

“It’s a good feeling to go home and coach and teach at my alma mater,” said Long, who spent the last four seasons at Miamisburg. “The big factor was they were able to offer me a job in the school teaching. It is a good feeling to go back and give back to the community and the school I came from. Being in the school, with benefits and retirement ... it was a great move for my family.”

Long will become the seventh former Wildcat to return to his alma mater as a head coach, something fellow alum — and football coach and athletic director — Rodney Roberts believes says something about the community.

“I think it says a lot about the type of individual Franklin High School produces,” he said. “We’re really excited to have someone of Jake’s caliber. His success and background speak for themselves.”

Long becomes the third head baseball coach at Franklin in the last four decades. Doug Long, Jake’s father, was the head coach for 28 years before Kinser took over.

“He decided it was time,” Roberts said of Kinser. “He took us to unbelievable heights. We had great success under him, and we are thankful for everything he did for the program.”

Long, who played for his father, knows he will have support but believes he is past the pressure his last name represents in area baseball circles.

“He doesn’t care where I coach. He is going to go to the game, play with the kids and be grandpa,” Long said of his dad.

“I’ve been doing it long enough now that I think my resume speaks for itself as well.”

Miamisburg finished 14-12 last season and advanced to the sectional finals, where the Vikings lost to Northmont in extra innings.