APPLETON, Wis. -- Chris Krepline is the new baseball coach at Lawrence University, Director of Athletics Christyn Abaray announced today.
Krepline, a former assistant coach for the Vikings, returns to Lawrence after serving as an assistant coach at St. Norbert College since 2015. Krepline replaces Jason Anderson, who stepped down in July after serving as the head coach for 10 seasons.
"We are excited to have Chris joining our LU family," Abaray said. "Chris brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as both a player and coach that will both support and challenge our student-athletes on and off the field. His excitement is contagious so I am looking forward to the future of the Lawrence University baseball program."
A native of Reedsville, Wis., and former star at Carthage College, Krepline was an assistant for the Vikings in 2013 and 2014 and worked with the pitchers, catchers and infielders.
"I am very thankful for the opportunity afforded to me by Christyn Abaray and Lawrence University. I am extremely excited to take the lead as this team and this program have great potential to bring pride, passion and purpose to the Lawrence baseball community," said Krepline, who has a wife, Brianne, and a son, Boe.
"In baseball and in life, a person occasionally gets the opportunity to do something great. This could not have been a more perfect opportunity for me and my family, and I am looking forward to building great moments and great memories as a Lawrence Viking."
Krepline has been working with the pitching staff at St. Norbert for the past four seasons. During that time, he coached six All-Midwest Conference and four All-Central Region pitchers. St. Norbert had the Midwest Conference North Division Pitcher of the Year for the past three seasons with the 2018 selection sharing the honor with Lawrence's Chris Shaw. With Krepline on the staff, St. Norbert won three Midwest Conference North Division titles, a Midwest Conference championship and played in the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament.
In addition to his college coaching experience, Krepline has served as an assistant coach with the Green Bay Bullfrogs of the Northwoods League and was the Reedsville High School coach from 2011 to 2013. At Reedsville, Krepline coached his Panthers to a WIAA Regional title and a spot in the sectional tournament in 2012.
A 2009 graduate of Carthage, Krepline has a bachelor's degree in exercise and sport science. He earned a Master's degree in applied exercise science from Concordia University Chicago in 2015.
A standout pitcher at Carthage, Krepline was chosen for the All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin first team in 2007. Krepline also earned All-Central Region honors and was named to the All-Central Regional Tournament team.
Krepline played for Carthage in the finals of the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship at Fox Cities Stadium and helped his squad to a fifth-place finish in 2007. A shoulder injury derailed Krepline's pitching career in 2008, but he did return to play for Carthage in 2010.
Also a standout wide receiver for the Carthage football team, Krepline was a starter on the squad that reached the 2004 NCAA Division III semifinals and won the CCIW championship.
Krepline played professional baseball for two years with stints on the Lake County Fielders, Macon Pinetoppers, Saskatchewan Silver Sox and Rockford River Hawks.
Krepline takes over a Lawrence team that won 15 games and took second place in the Midwest Conference North Division. The Vikings played in the Midwest Conference Tournament for the first time since 1991.