Headshot - Joe Yegge

Joe Yegge

Joe Yegge is entering his third season in charge of the Griffons. He joined the program in August of 2021 and went 30-22 (17-9 MIAA) in his first year. The Griffons made an impressive run in the MIAA tournament, missing a berth in the championship by one game, eliminating the No. 5 Central Oklahoma in the process. 
 
In 2023, Missouri Western Softball had an impressive overall record of 37-20 and went 14-12 in the MIAA, leading to a successful run in the MIAA Tournament. Senior pitcher Sam Pederson was named to the all-tournament team. Additionally, six Griffons were honored with All-MIAA team honors, including Sydni Hawkins who was named conference player of the year as a first-team second baseman.
 
Hawkins also earned a spot on the NFCA All-Central Region Team on the tail end of a season in which she cemented her place in the record books tying the all-time hit record and leading the program's storied history for the first all-time for doubles. 
 
BEFORE MWSU
Yegge arrived at MWSU after three seasons as the associate head coach at DePaul University. Yegge brings 26 years of coaching experience to St. Joseph and has a career record of 714-286 (.714) in 16 years as a head coach.
 
In Yegge’s three seasons in Chicago, DePaul went 68-39 and 24-6 in the Big East Conference. He and the Blue Demons' coaching staff were named the Big East Coaching Staff of the Year this past season as they went 25-11 and won the regular season league title with a 13-1 mark. 
 
The 2020 campaign was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but DePaul went 35-16 during the 2019 season and made the NCAA Tournament. They finished second in the Big East during the regular season and won the conference tournament championship.
 
Prior to his time at DePaul, Yegge built a junior college powerhouse at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He led the Eagles to a 537-112 (.827) record during his 11 seasons, as they won eight ICCAC conference championships and made six appearances in the NJCAA Division II World Series. Kirkwood won 41 games in each of Yegge’s last 10 seasons, including at least 52 wins six times.
 
Yegge and his staff were named the NFCA Midwest Regional Coaching Staff of the Year three times while at KCC. He developed 46 NFCA All-Americans, 33 NJCAA All-Americans, and three National Player of the Year winners at Kirkwood.  He has also coached 10 Academic All-Americans.
 
Yegge sent 53 players to four-year programs, including five to Missouri Western during his time at KCC. Shyanne Saladino (2015-16), Gabi Carter (2018-19), Morgan Frost (2018-19), and Lexi Kinnaird (2019) are all former Griffons who played under Yegge, while former player Rachel Stewart was at Kirkwood during his final season.
 
Yegge was also the head softball coach at Cedar Rapids Prairie High School for five years while he was at Kirkwood. He led the Hawks to a conference championship in 2015 and two appearances in the state tournament before stepping down in 2017.
 
Prior to Kirkwood, Yegge spent five seasons as the hitting coach at Indiana State and had his first coaching opportunity at North Iowa Area Community College.  He was the head coach there from 1999-02 after serving as an assistant coach at NIACC for two years.
 
Yegge and his wife, Amy, have two boys, Wyatt (14) and Canon (10).
 
YEGGE COACHING HISTORY
DePaul University | Associate Head Coach (2019-2021)
Kirkwood Community College | Head Coach (2008-2018)
Indiana State University | Assistant Coach (2003-2007)
North Iowa Area Community College | Head Coach (1999-2002)
North Iowa Area Community College | Assistant Coach (1997-1998)