By Eduardo Zermeno in Campus News, College Days, Feature Story, Sports, Student Life on April 5, 2025
Athletic Director Schumacher details how Ripon faculty and coaches are trying to foster a healthy campus environment
Chris Schumacher was hired by Ripon College after 30 years of experience in various administrative positions at different Division 3 institutions. Since his arrival, his goal has been to appeal to the Ripon College community through means like Instagram reels.
With liberal arts colleges closing throughout the nation, one might wonder how Ripon College will be different. Athletic Director “Shoe” provided his perspective on these closings and what the faculty at Ripon College is doing to maintain a healthy athletic culture.
“My first year, I spent a lot of time just getting to know the coaches and seeing how to build their cultures. We also had a lot of athletic hires in that first year, from a new head coach for tennis to an assistant football coach. So I spent a lot of time talking with our coaches about building a strong culture where athletes work hard on and off the field,” Schumacher said.
Additionally, Shoe stated that sometimes it can be hard to meet the expectations of different athletes, but his work with coaches helps bridge that gap.
“It’s always a challenge when you can only have so many players on the field at one time. And so, how do you keep those people happy? I think it starts with showing [athletes] that you care, and that you’re not just a number out there; rather, developing them into future leaders,” Schumacher said.
Chris Schumacher and faculty look to make a positive impact on students and athletes alike. Photo courtesy of Chris Schumacher.
Athlete retention has been a crucial conversation for the department, especially as students transfer to play at other schools. Ripon College has been working to ensure that transfers aren’t as common.
“Getting to know the student-athlete during the recruiting process, and then having a transparent conversation as that process goes on, is vital. If a sport has a lower rate of retention, then you have to self-evaluate, talk with captains and upperclassmen, and even other coaches, and see what can be changed,” Schumacher said.
In addition to traditional sports, Ripon College is also making efforts to meet student needs in other ways. E-sports, women’s flag football, and the exercise science master’s degree are all tools that the college will use to make sure that students are happy.
“There’s a large number of applicants for esports. I think it’s going to bring more students to the college, but it’s also going to be a retention tool for some. The exercise science major is huge because you can come in and get a master’s degree in five years. We’re also going to add women’s flag football, which we hope will add another exciting dynamic to campus,” Schumacher said.
With the future of the college being meticulously and purposefully guided, Ripon College faculty is working to cater to the current and future students in different areas.
“We know that we face challenges like other schools do, but we’re not making excuses. We’re not just throwing things blindly to see what sticks, but we’re doing things to keep us well-positioned in the market,” Schumacher said.