A 2005 graduate of Oakland City University, Erin (Evans) Kerns completed a master's degree in business during her time as a member of the OCU women's basketball team. As an outstanding player during her time in the blue and white, Erin was named to the NCCAA All-Tournament team in 2004 and 2005, as well as earning a spot on the Honorable Mention All-American Team in 2004, followed by a Second-Team All-American berth in 2005. 

Erin finisher her playing career with 1,540 points, the fourth most by a women's basketball player at the time of her graduation, which included 564 points in 2004-2005, her senior season, then the fourth highest single season amount in team history. Her 160 made free throws that season set a new record for Oakland City women's basketball, and her 84.7% shooting on the year, making 160-189 from the foul line, was the third best single season percentage to date. She completed her career with a free throw shooting average of 80.6%, ranking third, making 429 out of 532 attempts. Her career totals for made free throws and free throw attempts ranked second and third respectively.

During the same year as her graduation, she married fellow OCU basketball player Ryan Kerns, while Erin was serving as a probation officer in Daviess County, Indiana, as well as growing their excavation business. The couple welcomed their first son, Cole, in 2006, and by the time he was a year old, Erin had moved into a full-time position managing their own business. They had a second son, Brody, in 2010, a third son, Nathan, in 2011, and a fourth son, Ty Henry, in 2018.