Xavier High School stayed within its softball family to pick a new head coach.

Nikki Price, an assistant with the Saints for eight years, will succeed Brian Erbe as head coach, the school announced Tuesday.

Erbe resigned at Xavier this summer to become the new softball coach at Jefferson, where he works as a school administrator.

Price served as Xavier's interim head coach this past season while Erbe recovered from heart surgery.

Price played softball at Kirkwood Community College and Minnesota State. She is currently a graduate student at Graceland University and plans to complete her studies in December.

"Nikki has been a big part of the success that Xavier has accomplished in softball over the past eight seasons," Xavier athletic director Mike Winker stated in a press release. "I believe it was important for our program at this time to keep a philosophical continuity for the athletes.

"She has earned the opportunity to direct the Xavier softball program. I look forward to working with Nikki as she brings her own ideas to making our program even better."