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MUSCATINE, Iowa – Bob Leech is returning to the Muscatine baseball program for a second stint.

The Muscatine Board of Education approved Leech’s hiring as the school’s new varsity baseball coach Monday night at its meeting.

Leech replaces Matt Rivera, who resigned from the position late this summer after 10 seasons.

“I’m excited from the standpoint that I’m at a little different place in my life now,” said Leech, who coached the Muskies from 1981-99. “My kids have grown up and I don’t have the requirements at home. It’s a good time in my life to do this.

“Also, I’m happy I’m able to help (Muscatine) out. With all the teaching cutbacks, it’s kind of difficult to fill those jobs.”

Leech’s resume speaks for itself. In 26 years of coaching at Centerville, Marshalltown and Muscatine, he’s compiled 575 victories. He guided the Muskies to a state runner-up finish in 1986, along with top-four finishes in 1990 and 1998.

Currently ranked 33rd all-time on the state’s career win list, Leech was inducted into the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2003.

“We are excited to have Bob come back as the head baseball coach at MHS,” Muscatine athletic director Tim Goodwin said in a press release. “It’s hard to pass up the opportunity of getting a Hall of Fame coach who has the passion to work with high school athletes and knows what it takes to bring a high level of success to the baseball program.

“I am confident that Bob and his staff will make the Muskies into a perennial contender in the near future.”

Leech inherits a team that was 14-24 this past season, but had just one senior in Ethan Schroeder.

“I’d like to build on the foundation that Matt has had here,” Leech said. “We’ll try and take it to another level. He left us a good foundation, so we’ll see what we can do with it.”

Leech is in the process of putting together a staff. Sophomore coach Clay Dillon is still under contract.

“I know some of the kids that are returning, but I’m anxious to meet with the kids and get a feel for what they’re thinking,” Leech said. “I’ve been in and around teaching most of my adult life.

“I like working with kids and I like the instruction part of baseball. It seems to fit right now.”