It's been an eventful couple of weeks for Grant Livingston.

Ten days ago, Livingston and his wife Katelyn welcomed their first child, daughter Harper, into the world.

And Friday, Livingston was named head baseball coach at his alma mater, St. Bernard School.

"I'd be lying if said it wasn't a dream of mine to coach at my alma mater," said Livingston, who recently completed a five-year stint as manager of the Niantic American Legion program.

"We were impressed with the pool of strong candidates, and we are very excited to welcome Grant back to Saint Bernard," athletic director Susan Griffin said in a release. "Through his work in Legion baseball, Grant has proven his coaching prowess and has earned the respect of coaches and players. His knowledge and experience as a member of the Saints athletic program will greatly benefit our baseball team."

Livingston graduated from St. Bernard in 2007, where he was the starting shortstop for three seasons (and an occasional pitcher). He went on to play four seasons at Plymouth State in New Hampshire, graduating in 2011 and while earning All-Little East Conference honors.

He accepted a job out of state but returned a few years later and became an assistant coach with the Saints in 2015 and 2016.

"That's where I kind of got my feet wet (as a coach)," Livingston said. "They needed a pitching coach and I really enjoyed it. That's when I knew I wanted to be around the game again."

He led Niantic Legion to a pair of Zone VI titles during his tenure and was twice named Zone VI Manager of Year but resigned after the summer with the pending arrival of his daughter. His wife, the former Katelyn Flanagan, won a state championship with the Waterford softball team and recently accepted a physical education job at Clarke Lane Middle School in Waterford.

But timing is everything, and it became a no-brainer to pursue the St. Bernard job when the position opened this summer.

He looks forward to meeting his new players soon and said his immediate goal will be the same as when he was a player at St. Bernard — win a state championship.

"That's how it was when I was there, and that's going to be the goal every year," Livingston said. "That's where we're always going to start."

He's also looking forward to getting alumni back involved in the program and said Friday work has begun to refurbish the old baseball field behind the school so the Saints can play on campus in 2020 after calling Norwich's Dodd Stadium home in recent years.

"We have such a strong alumni group and the program's done such great things over the years, to get those people back is what I'm most excited about," Livingston said. "But another thing I'm excited about is going back on the hill and bringing home games back to St. Bernard.

"I remember starting my first game as a shortstop and getting jitters watching all the parents line up around the field on top of that hill. Dodd Stadium is a great place, but there's nothing like having your own home turf. It's a great first step in the right direction."

c.banning@theday.com