Chris Schumacher Named Athletic Director at Ripon College

He will start his role at Ripon later this spring

3/15/2023 9:57:00 AM

RIPON, Wis. - After a tremendously successful run that saw the Illinois Wesleyan University women's track and field program claim four NCAA Division III National Championships under his tenure, Chris Schumacher announced his resignation as IWU's Director of Track & Field and Head Women's Coach effective later this spring. Schumacher was named the Director of Athletics at Ripon College, March 15, a post he will officially move into after the conclusion of the outdoor track and field season.

"I want to thank Dennie Bridges, who took a chance when he brought me to IWU with no head track & field coaching experience, and Mike Wagner for his unwavering support and mentorship," Schumacher reflected. "I have 26 years of incredible leadership to draw from as I begin this new venture."

"I am excited for Chris and his family and wish him the very best in this new endeavor," IWU Athletic Director Mike Wagner said. "Chris has led our track and field teams to incredible success over the years and will bring great experience to his new role. He has served our student-athletes and campus in a wide variety of areas over the past two-plus decades and has kept the goal of providing a first-class student-athlete experience at the forefront."

Schumacher has been the head men's and women's track and field coach at Illinois Wesleyan since 1997 and in the summer of 2021 was promoted to Director of Track and Field. In the spring of 2022 he was named the Ben and Susan Rhodes Endowed Professor of Peace and Social Justice. Schumacher was appointed as Illinois Wesleyan's Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee (ADID) for the NCAA in 2020 and also served as co-chair of the athletic department's Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Action Committee.

Under Schumacher's direction, the Titans have produced 291 All-Americans, including three relay teams and 18 individual national champions.

In addition to winning four NCAA championships (2016 outdoor, 2010 outdoor, 2008 Indoor and outdoor); his women's teams finished in the top-20 nationally on 18 other occasions –2018 (12th outdoor): 2015 (3rd Indoor, 4th outdoor); 2014 (19th outdoor), 2013 (17th indoor); 2012 (sixth Indoor, ninth outdoor); 2011 (sixth indoor); 2009 (fourth indoor, seventh outdoor); 2007 (10th indoor, 19th outdoor); 2006 (fourth indoor, 17th outdoor); 2004 (sixth indoor, 11th outdoor); 2003 (13th indoor); and 2000 (eighth indoor).

Schumacher's men's teams also yielded six national finishes – 2008 (14th indoor, 25th outdoor); 2007 (18th outdoor); 2000 (eighth indoor); and 1999 (ninth indoor, 15th outdoor.).

The IWU track and field staff was voted College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin "Staff of the Year" in 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2016. Schumacher was named Division III "Coach of the Year" by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association in 2008, 2010, and 2016. He was also named Midwest Region "Coach of the Year" in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012, 2015, and 2016.

Schumacher is a 1991 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he was an All-American for three years in track & field, competing on teams that won three national championships. He was also a four-year letter winner in football and played in two national championship games.

Schumacher, who earned a Master's Degree in Physical Education in 1992 at UW-La Crosse, was promoted to Associate Professor of Physical Education at IWU in February 2003, and to full professor in 2013.

In the fall of 2006, he was inducted into the UW-La Crosse Wall of Fame, an award that honors those individuals who have displayed exceptional ability while on campus and since graduation. In the fall of 2002 Schumacher earned the UW-La Crosse Multicultural Alumni Award, which is given to multicultural graduates who have achieved distinction in their field.

Schumacher and his wife, Amy, have a daughter, Kienna, a 2016 Illinois Wesleyan graduate with a degree in accounting and a four-year letterwinner on the IWU track and field team; and a son, Keondre who is a current member of the track and field team majoring in Religious Studies.

Print Friendly Version