The only way Jonathan Mikula was going to leave his assistant coaching job at E.O. Smith was if he could go home.

Mikula, a 1992 New London High School graduate, was officially named head coach of the Whalers' baseball program on Tuesday. He replaces Mike Wheeler, who resigned in January after eight seasons.

“New London was the only school that I was going to leave for when I’ve been an assistant coach,” Mikula said. “I’ve been with one of my closest friends, (head coach) Mike Susi, at E.O. Smith the last few years. I always told him that the only school I’d leave him for was New London ... that if it ever opened up, I was going to apply for it immediately.”

Mikula played on New London’s 1991 CIAC Class M championship team and was a volunteer assistant for Gil Vargas from 1994-1998. Mikula joined the E.O. Smith staff in 2010 and was the 2016 Connecticut High School Coaches’ Association’s Assistant Coach of the Year.

“We’re very pleased to bring Jon back home to New London,” New London athletic director Chris Vamvakides said. “He had a lot of on field success as a Whaler and has gained a lot of valuable experience over the years as an assistant coach. I am very confident Jon will come in with high expectations and take our baseball family to the next level.”

The Whalers finished 14-9 last season. They’ve won six state championships, the last in 2009 in Wheeler’s first season.

“The biggest lure for coming back was being able to give back to the community that helped me and help kids the way my coaches and community helped me,” Mikula said.