APPLETON, Wis. -- Chris Krepline, the coach who took Lawrence University baseball to new heights over the past three seasons, is making the move to NCAA Division I. 

Krepline is joining the staff at the University of Cincinnati as Director of Player Development after leading the Vikings to a pair of Midwest Conference championships in the past three seasons.

"How do you sum up six years of memories other than by saying I feel blessed and to offer a sincere thank you. Lawrence was my first collegiate coaching experience, and then was my first job as a collegiate head coach," Krepline said. "We won championships, we broke records, however I will miss the relationships I have developed along the way the most. We have created something special here. The dedication it took to build this program to what it is today took a lot of effort and sacrifice. I am so grateful to the coaches, players, parents and alumni for everything they have done to help put this program on the map."

A native of Reedsville, Wis., Krepline came to Lawrence as the head coach in September 2018. He put together a 93-91 record over six seasons at Lawrence, and that includes a 72-46 mark over the past three seasons.

"I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to coach Krepline for his incredible leadership over the years," Lawrence Director of Athletics Jason Imperati said. "His guidance led our student-athletes to two conference championships, a testament to his dedication and skill on the field. Beyond the wins, his commitment to their growth in the classroom has truly made a lasting impact. He will be greatly missed, but his influence will be felt for years to come."

It took just three seasons under Krepline before the Vikings got things rolling.

In 2021, Lawrence finished the season with the third-highest win total in school history and more than tripled its win total from the last full season in 2019. On the offensive side, Lawrence finished with a school-record 17 triples and the pitching staff recorded a school-record 229 strikeouts. Lawrence also posted top-three numbers in school history for home runs, stolen bases, runs scored, runs batted in, walks and fielding percentage.

The 2022 squad won the Midwest Conference title and set a school record for victories with a 26-13 record. Lawrence swept through the Midwest Conference Tournament to earn its first trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament since 1979. Krepline was named D3baseball.com and American Baseball Coaches Association Region 9 Coach of the Year and Midwest Conference Coach of the Year. Outfielder Jacob Charon was named Midwest Conference Player of the Year, Quinn Berglin was Pitcher of the Year and outfielder Parker Knoll was Newcomer of the Year. Charon earned American Baseball Coaches Association All-America honors, and Charon, Berglin, Knoll and Taylor Freeman all received all-region accolades.

The 2024 team won its second Midwest Conference title in three seasons and set a school record for victories with a 31-11 record. Krepline was named the 2024 Midwest Conference Coach of the Year for the second time in his career.

Lawrence had a school-record four players named to All-America teams in 2024 with Charon earning first-team honors from both D3baseball.com and the American Baseball Coaches Association. Knoll was a first-team pick by the ABCA and a fifth-team choice by D3baseball.com. Berglin was an ABCA fourth-team pick and a fifth-team selection by D3baseball.com. Outfielder Edan Perez was a fifth-team pick by D3baseball.com. Charon was the Midwest Conference Player of the Year, and Berglin was the league's Pitcher of the Year.

Since 2019, Krepline has coached 21 All-Midwest Conference players, and the Vikings have captured the Position Player of the Year, the Pitcher of the Year and Newcomer of the Year awards. During that time, Lawrence has had five All-America selections and 12 All-Region 9 selections.

Krepline also manages the Green Bay Rockers in the prestigious Northwoods League and led his team to the 2023 league title.

"With President Laurie Carter and Athletic Director Jason Imperati steering the ship, I know we will stay the course while continuing to build upon the success of the last few years. My vision for this program is complete, and I know I am leaving it in good hands with a bright future," Krepline said. 

"I look forward to what awaits at the University of Cincinnati. Opportunities to coach in the Big 12, while having more family time, do not come around often, and I am excited for this next chapter of my career."