In running and in life, things have come full circle for Casey Steele.

After more than four decades away from Aberdeen, Steele has returned to where it all started. The former Aberdeen Roncalli distance ace is the new head coach for the Cavaliers cross country program this fall.

Steele, who assisted the squad last year, moved back to the Hub City after coaching in Wyoming for 35 years.

“We adopted a little guy. We were looking for the best fit for him for school and we wanted it to be in a Catholic, Christian environment and there wasn’t an option in Wyoming,” Steele said. “We have family here and that’s what brought us back.”

When Steele walked into the Roncalli gym the first time upon his return, a flood of memories came rushing back, however the wood floor and banners adorning the walls were something new from his prep days. There was also one other item of particular interest: a banner of school records that still contains his name.

Steele was part of the school record-setting two-mile relay in 1976, along with teammates Dave Schmidt (now in Watertown), Tony Buechler (who lives in Omaha), and Dan Noble (who resides in Texas).

“It was kind of funny, because the times right now would be really good for the competition that we have,” Steele said. “Well, we ran that time and we didn’t even quality for state with that time.”

That’s because back then there were only two classes of competition and Roncalli was in the largest class. There were also no in-season qualifying standards.

“Only two relay teams from the region qualified,” Steele said, “and Central and Huron were in front of us.”

Still, there is no question that Steele left his mark on the Roncalli programs. He was a member of the first cross country team in school history that qualified for the state meet in 1975, earning a top-five finish, again competing against the largest schools in South Dakota, including those from Sioux Falls.

“We qualified and were fifth in the state that year,” Steele said. “It was quite an exciting thing because we were running against Lincoln, Washington, all the big schools.”

Steele went on to become an all-conference and all-district runner at Northern State before heading into the coaching ranks.

Little did he ever envision returning to the school where it began for him. He said that while running hasn’t changed much, equipment, training and diet have undergone alterations through the years.

“There’s more emphasis on being a more total athlete, with strength training and things. We never did strength training,” Steele said. “In fact, we were discouraged from strength training until at Northern when (coach Duane) ‘Spike’ Millslagle came along and told us we were going in the weight room, and we thought he was kidding us.”

Steele and his teammates were right on the brink of major changes that would soon change the sport forever.

“In the 70s there were only two shoes that you could wear, an Adidas and the Nike Cortez, and they were leather shoes,” Steele said. “So it’s really evolved. When we got to Northern things started advancing at that time.”

While some off-course changes were noticeable, coaching has remained relatively the same, according to Steele. He said teenagers need to be encouraged and motivated.

“Kids are kids. You treat it like education,” Steele said. “You want those good kids to really be successful and the kids that aren’t so good, you want them to learn to love the sport and be a lifetime fitness runner and things like that. So the average kids, you want to make them good, and the good kids great.”

He said running needs to be treated like a lifestyle and not something athletes do just for cross country or track and field season.

Steele said he is making the adjustment to being back in South Dakota. For the longest time, he thought of himself as being from Wyoming.

“I kind of identified with being from Wyoming after a while. So when people ask you where you’re from, you say Wyoming,” Steele said. “Probably for the first 10-15 years, where you from, I’m from South Dakota, so now it’s the adjustment coming back.”

An adjustment that many local residents take for granted when it comes to the growth and development of the city.

“It’s so odd to see the beautiful Dacotah Bank Stadium at Northern and the Barnett Center,” Steele said “because when I was running, those weren’t there.”

In fact, Steele started his Northern State career competing at Simmons Field, before finishing up at the old Swisher Field on the north side of town.

While coming back to Roncalli is a familiar destination and full of fond memories, Steele said his perspective has changed on his alma mater.

“Roncalli’s a special place,” Steele said. “I realize it’s even a more special place as an adult, to see what kids are being ministered to, the care and concern, the coming together of parents, with teachers, and staff, and coaches. It’s really a neat experience.”

And while the trip around the running course took a while to complete, Steele now finds himself right back at the starting line.

“It’s coming full circle,” Steele said. “There’s wonderful people here in Aberdeen, and the support of the Catholic schools here is impressive.”