Chris Schumacher came to Ripon College in June 2023 with 30 years of experience in administrative work and coaching at private, liberal arts, Division III institutions. He enters his second school year leading the Ripon athletic department in 2024-25.
In 2023-24, Ripon won five Midwest Conference championships (outdoor and indoor men's and women's track and field, women's basketball), while the women took second in the Midwest Conference All-Sports Standings and the men took third.Â
Prior to joining Ripon, he most recently served as the assistant athletic director for diversity, equity and inclusion and the director of track and field operations at Illinois Wesleyan University. He was also a professor in the kinesiology department there.
Schumacher says he is looking forward to stepping into a more focused administrative role at Ripon College. He plans to address strategic planning, mentoring, alumni relations and recruiting in an ever-changing and challenging environment to keep the athletic department moving forward.
Schumacher was born in Appleton, Wisconsin, and grew up in Wausau, Wisconsin. He received a bachelor's degree in physical education and a master's degree in physical education with a biomechanics emphasis from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.Â
He also earned the Cornell University Diversity Equity and Inclusion Certificate in 2022 and was named the Ben and Susan Rhodes Endowed Professor of Peace and Social Justice at Illinois Wesleyan in 2022.Â
A member of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Athletic Wall of Fame, Schumacher earned All-American status in track and field and competed on three national championship teams. He was also a first-team all-conference football selection.
Before his arrival at Illinois Wesleyan, the track and field teams had produced 19 All-Americans. The program now has 291 All-American honors and four NCAA titles. The department has had 25 NCAA top-four finishes across all sports, with 10 under Schumacher's direction. Schumacher and his staff were named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Staff of the Year in 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2023.
U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) named Schumacher Division III National "Coach of the Year" in 2008, 2010 and 2016. He also has been named Midwest Region Coach of the Year by USTFCCCA in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016.
Schumacher is married to Amy, a fourth-grade teacher. Their daughter, Kienna, is a 2016 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan who earned her degree in accounting. Their son, Keondre, is a 2023 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan who earned his degree in world religion.
