Chris Schumacher arrived at Ripon College in June 2023 with more than 30 years of experience in athletic administration and coaching at private, liberal arts, Division III institutions.
Since his arrival, Schumacher has led significant growth and innovation within Ripon Athletics. Under his leadership, the department added Esports and Flag Football, expanded NIL opportunities by joining the Opendorse NIL Marketplace in his first year—making Ripon the first school in the Midwest Conference to do so—and implemented Mental Health First Aid certification for athletics staff through the NCAA. He also led locker room upgrades and partnered with Hour-A-Thon to address immediate fundraising needs.
Ripon Athletics has experienced strong competitive success during Schumacher’s tenure. In 2023–24, the Red Hawks won five Midwest Conference championships (outdoor and indoor men’s and women’s track and field, and women’s basketball). The women’s basketball program has advanced to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in Schumacher’s first two years. Overall, the women’s program finished second and the men’s program third in the Midwest Conference All-Sports Standings.
As Vice President and Director of Athletics, Schumacher serves as a member of the President’s Leadership Team, contributing to institutional strategy and decision-making. His administrative priorities include strategic planning, mentoring, alumni engagement, recruiting, student-athlete well-being, and navigating the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics.
Prior to joining Ripon, Schumacher served as Assistant Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Director of Track and Field Operations at Illinois Wesleyan University, where he was also a professor in the kinesiology department.
A native of Wisconsin, Schumacher was born in Appleton and grew up in Wausau. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education, with a biomechanics emphasis, from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. 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 that same year.
A member of the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse Athletic Wall of Fame, Schumacher was an All-American in track and field, competed on three national championship teams, and earned first-team all-conference honors in football. His coaching career includes 291 All-American honors, four NCAA team titles, and 25 NCAA top-four finishes across all sports, with 10 occurring under his direct leadership. He has been named USTFCCCA Division III National Coach of the Year three times and Midwest Region Coach of the Year six times. He is also a member of the Wausau East High School Hall of Fame.
Schumacher is married to Amy, a fourth-grade teacher. Their daughter, Kienna, is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan with a degree in accounting, and their son, Keondre, is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan with a degree in world religion.
