{"id":16929,"date":"2024-08-13T13:03:36","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T17:03:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/?p=16929"},"modified":"2024-08-29T11:52:32","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T15:52:32","slug":"michelle-frew-softball-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"Michelle Frew \u201991 returns to Eckerd College as head softball coach after 33 years"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extraa-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”16933″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” img_link_large=”yes” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]Alumna Michelle Frew coached the University of Charleston softball team to two NCAA Tournament appearances and was named their athletic conference’s Women\u2019s Sports Coach of the Year.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”32″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=”” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” el_class=”news_subhead” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]One of the most successful softball coaches in NCAA Division II<\/a> history, with 1,002 career victories, Michelle Frew \u201991 came to Eckerd College as a first-year student in 1987.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”32″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=”” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]To play basketball.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in Indianapolis, and basketball is huge in Indiana,\u201d Frew explains. \u201cA basketball scholarship and my dad\u2019s encouragement got me to Eckerd. I had some offers from schools in Indiana, but it was a good time for me to get away and spread my wings. My dad put me on a plane, and I\u2019d never flown before.<\/p>\n

\u201cI met with [then\u2013Eckerd basketball] coach Celia Bloodworth, and I still remember that day. It was pouring down rain. But I knew I wanted to come here. My childhood was kind of rough at times, and I remember being homesick that first semester. But I don\u2019t think I went back home after my first year. I felt like Eckerd was my new family.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”3%” bottom_padding=”2%” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=”” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”16932″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”16″][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]No. 10 Michelle Frew with the 1990-91 Eckerd College women’s basketball team<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”32″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=”” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]Now, 33 years and a packed trophy case later, the family is reunited. Frew, who starred in basketball<\/a> and softball<\/a> during her time at Eckerd before embarking on a dazzling coaching career, was offered the opportunity recently to return to her alma mater to coach the Tritons softball team.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”32″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=”” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” el_class=”lg_text” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\u201cI didn\u2019t hesitate,\u201d she says. \u201cThis is what I\u2019m supposed to do.\u201d<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”32″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=”” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2\/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]A guard in women\u2019s basketball, Michelle Lemons (her maiden name) was a three-time all-conference selection for Eckerd and currently ranks in several career records, including second in field goals made (528) and third in points (1,370). A catcher in softball, she was a three-time all-conference selection as well, and she currently ranks fourth in career stolen bases (48) and fifth in career batting average (.326).<\/p>\n

As a senior, she earned the Triton Award as the top female athlete at the College. After her last plate appearance in May 1991, she graduated from the College with a degree in human development<\/a>. She later earned her master\u2019s degree in guidance counseling from Nova Southeastern University. The late Molly Ransbury, Ph.D., one of the first female faculty members at Eckerd, was Frew\u2019s mentor. \u201cShe looked after me,\u201d Frew says, \u201cand really made me feel at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

A hint of what was to come occurred right after she graduated when she was named the head softball coach for then\u2013Edison Community College in Fort Myers. After inheriting a program that had never posted a winning season, her teams compiled a three-year record of 118\u201383, and in her final season, she led the Buccaneers to a 39\u201313 overall record and a 16\u20132 conference mark, earning herself Southern Conference Coach of the Year honors.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” top_margin=”32″ column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”16934″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” img_link_large=”yes” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”16″][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]Coach Frew huddles up with University of Charleston softball players<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”32″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=”” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]And then one of Eckerd\u2019s fiercest rivals\u2014Rollins College\u2014came calling. Frew was hired in 1995 and immediately resurrected a program that had finished in last place the previous 13 seasons. She built the program into a nationally recognized power that was an NCAA Tournament participant 11 times. In 2016, she led her squad to its first-ever NCAA Regional Championship. She also was a four-time Sunshine State Conference<\/a> Coach of the Year. In addition to head softball coach, Frew served as the Rollins assistant women\u2019s basketball coach from 1995\u20131998 and helped the Tars post two 20-victory seasons.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”3%” bottom_padding=”2%” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=”” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”16941″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”Fade In” animation_easing=”default” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” img_link_large=”yes” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”skip-lazy-load” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”16″][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]Michelle Frew played softball as well as basketball during her time at Eckerd.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”32″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=”” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]What was it like coaching against Eckerd for 25 years while she was at Rollins? \u201cIn the beginning, it was pretty hard,\u201d she answers. \u201cMy heart is with Eckerd, but being the competitor I am, it was a fun challenge. Rollins was really bad the year before I got there. They got rid of the program in the middle of the season. But they had to keep it to stay in the conference. I\u2019m really proud of what we accomplished there. Now I\u2019ve already got the Eckerd-Rollins game circled on the calendar.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her last stop before Eckerd was at the University of Charleston in West Virginia, where she led the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances, including the Women\u2019s College World Series this year following a program-record 51\u20138 season. For her efforts, she was named the 2023\u20132024 Mountain East Conference<\/a> Women\u2019s Sports Coach of the Year.<\/p>\n

About 850 miles away in St. Petersburg, Eckerd College Director of Athletics Tom Ryan \u201987<\/a> noticed what Frew had done. \u201cTom Ryan sent me an email congratulating us on the World Series,\u201d she says. \u201cA few days later, he called me and said [softball coach] Katie Profitt was leaving. I said, \u2018Tom, I\u2019m there.\u2019 I actually got goosebumps. It was hard leaving those kids who worked their tails off in Charleston, and I\u2019m so grateful to everyone at the university.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”32″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=”” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” el_class=”lg_text” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\u201cBut you dream of things happening, and they don\u2019t always come true. This time, it did. Everything has just fallen into place. It\u2019s so surreal how all this happened.\u201d<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”32″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=”” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”right” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]Ryan says he\u2019s excited to have Frew back in Triton gear. \u201cI knew her as a student-athlete, when she was an accomplished two-sport athlete,\u201d he says. \u201cI followed her coaching career from her initial years at the junior college level to her time at Rollins and Charleston, where she\u2019s had remarkable success developing her players, building programs to new heights, and winning championships at every stop.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Coach Profitt decided to step away, Michelle was the first name I thought of. We are very excited to see what the future holds for our softball program with her at the helm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the friendships I made at Eckerd,\u201d Frew adds. \u201cWhen my team in Charleston played in the World Series in Orlando, my husband [Stephen Frew \u201988] and six of his friends from Eckerd came to watch.\u201d Stephen, who played baseball<\/a> at Eckerd and serves as Michelle\u2019s pitching coach, works as an engineer with Riptide Software, a technology development company. The couple has a daughter, Erin, who works for Charleston\u2019s Sports Information Department, and a son, Dylan, who will be a first-year student at Florida State this fall.<\/p>\n

Frew says she\u2019ll be a little nervous when she takes the field at Eckerd for the first time after all those years. But that will quickly pass, she says, as her newest family comes together.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to build positive relationships with my kids,\u201d she says about her players. \u201cI want them to be there for each other, to become a family\u2014and to know that we\u2019re going to outwork you, but we\u2019ll have fun doing it.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extraa-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default”…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":16941,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[80,83],"tags":[1246,1247,1156,239],"class_list":{"0":"post-16929","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-alumni","8":"category-athletics","9":"tag-michelle-frew","10":"tag-softball","11":"tag-sunshine-state-conference","12":"tag-tom-ryan"},"yoast_head":"\nMichelle Frew \u201991 returns to Eckerd College as head softball coach after 33 years - News | Eckerd College<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Michelle Frew \u201991 returns to Eckerd College as head softball coach after 33 years\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"News | Eckerd College\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"News | Eckerd College\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-08-13T17:03:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-08-29T15:52:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/08\/softball-huddle2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"669\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"446\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tom Zucco\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Tom Zucco\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Tom Zucco\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/e4f374512cebfaf0e80743ab22a7f66d\"},\"headline\":\"Michelle Frew \u201991 returns to Eckerd College as head softball coach after 33 years\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-08-13T17:03:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-08-29T15:52:32+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/\"},\"wordCount\":3636,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/08\/softball-huddle2.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Michelle Frew\",\"softball\",\"Sunshine State Conference\",\"Tom Ryan\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Alumni\",\"Athletics\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/\",\"name\":\"Michelle Frew \u201991 returns to Eckerd College as head softball coach after 33 years - News | Eckerd College\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/08\/softball-huddle2.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-08-13T17:03:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-08-29T15:52:32+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/e4f374512cebfaf0e80743ab22a7f66d\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/08\/softball-huddle2.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/08\/softball-huddle2.jpg\",\"width\":669,\"height\":446,\"caption\":\"Black and white photo of softball players in a huddle\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Michelle Frew \u201991 returns to Eckerd College as head softball coach after 33 years\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/\",\"name\":\"News | Eckerd College\",\"description\":\"Newsroom at Eckerd College\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/e4f374512cebfaf0e80743ab22a7f66d\",\"name\":\"Tom Zucco\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e95b572fd764b73d09a73a51bd8ff41d76bbc23aa5d35c272f0c61a36265fc19?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e95b572fd764b73d09a73a51bd8ff41d76bbc23aa5d35c272f0c61a36265fc19?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e95b572fd764b73d09a73a51bd8ff41d76bbc23aa5d35c272f0c61a36265fc19?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Tom Zucco\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Michelle Frew \u201991 returns to Eckerd College as head softball coach after 33 years - News | Eckerd College","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Michelle Frew \u201991 returns to Eckerd College as head softball coach after 33 years","og_description":"News | Eckerd College","og_url":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/","og_site_name":"News | Eckerd College","article_published_time":"2024-08-13T17:03:36+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-08-29T15:52:32+00:00","og_image":[{"width":669,"height":446,"url":"http:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/08\/softball-huddle2.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Tom Zucco","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Tom Zucco","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/"},"author":{"name":"Tom Zucco","@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/e4f374512cebfaf0e80743ab22a7f66d"},"headline":"Michelle Frew \u201991 returns to Eckerd College as head softball coach after 33 years","datePublished":"2024-08-13T17:03:36+00:00","dateModified":"2024-08-29T15:52:32+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/"},"wordCount":3636,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/08\/softball-huddle2.jpg","keywords":["Michelle Frew","softball","Sunshine State Conference","Tom Ryan"],"articleSection":["Alumni","Athletics"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/","url":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/","name":"Michelle Frew \u201991 returns to Eckerd College as head softball coach after 33 years - News | Eckerd College","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/08\/softball-huddle2.jpg","datePublished":"2024-08-13T17:03:36+00:00","dateModified":"2024-08-29T15:52:32+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/e4f374512cebfaf0e80743ab22a7f66d"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/08\/softball-huddle2.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/08\/softball-huddle2.jpg","width":669,"height":446,"caption":"Black and white photo of softball players in a huddle"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/michelle-frew-softball-coach\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Michelle Frew \u201991 returns to Eckerd College as head softball coach after 33 years"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/","name":"News | Eckerd College","description":"Newsroom at Eckerd College","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/e4f374512cebfaf0e80743ab22a7f66d","name":"Tom Zucco","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e95b572fd764b73d09a73a51bd8ff41d76bbc23aa5d35c272f0c61a36265fc19?s=96&d=blank&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e95b572fd764b73d09a73a51bd8ff41d76bbc23aa5d35c272f0c61a36265fc19?s=96&d=blank&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e95b572fd764b73d09a73a51bd8ff41d76bbc23aa5d35c272f0c61a36265fc19?s=96&d=blank&r=g","caption":"Tom Zucco"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16929","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16929"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16929\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16996,"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16929\/revisions\/16996"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16941"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16929"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16929"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16929"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}