Eric Frese is returning to Eastern Iowa to become the new softball coach at Kirkwood Community College.

Frese replaces Joe Yegge, who left Kirkwood after 11 seasons this summer to become the associate head coach at DePaul University.

Frese, who is from Norway, has been the head baseball coach at Wisconsin-Platteville for the past 12 years.

Frese has also been serving as an assistant softball coach at Dubuque Hempstead High School where his wife, Alisha Frese, is the head coach. Alisha Frese played softball at Kirkwood.

"We have offered and he has accepted the position," Kirkwood athletic director Doug Wagemester confirmed Friday afternoon. "That happened this morning. We're fired up."

Frese helped Norway High School win three state titles during his prep career with the Tigers. He played baseball at Mount Mercy University and served as the head baseball coach at Clarke University before moving to Platteville, where he compiled a 190-289 record and became the school's all-time winningest coach.

Wagemester said there were more than 30 applicants for the job at Kirkwood.