University of Wisconsin La Crosse Athletics

Chris Schwarz begins his 23^rd season as head baseball coach at UW-La Crosse in 2026-27.

Awards & Honors

• 3x American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Region 9 Coach of the Year (2015, 2016, 2023)
• 4x D3baseball.com All-Region Coach of the Year (2012, 2015, 2016, 2023).
• 4x Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Coach of the Year (2006, 2012, 2016, 2023)
• 2012 Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association (WBCA) Coach of the Year.
• Winningest coach in UWL history and third in the WIAC with an all-time record of 567-355-2 (2005-Present)
• UWL has made nine appearances in the NCAA III National Tournament under Schwarz ((2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
• Schwarz has led the Eagles to three NCAA Division III Baseball Championships (2015, 2016, 2023) including an NCAA III National Runner-up finish in 20015
• Has coached four players who have been drafted in the Major League Baseball Draft
  • Joel Effertz (Miami Marlin, 28^th Round)
  • Taylor Kohlwey (San Diego Padres, 21^st Round)
  • Caleb Boushley (San Diego Padres, 33^rd Round)
  • Tyler Schmitt (San Diego Padres, 17^th Round)
• 2024 UW-La Crosse Wall of Fame Inductee

• The Eagles finished 33-14 overall and 21-7 to finish second in the WIAC.
• Earned an at-large bid to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III National Tournament. The national tournament appearance was the Eagles ninth under Schwarz (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
• UWL went 1-2 at the NCAA III Regional where they defeated Millikin University (Ill.) 7-2 before falling to Baldwin Wallace University (Ohio) 5-4 and Wartburg College (Iowa) 7-6.
• Chris Calico was named to the ABCA Division III Region All-Defensive team while AJ Curtis, Owen Deprez, Brady Burrill and Austin Olla all earned All-Region honors.
• Helped coach AJ Curtis who was named WIAC Pitcher of the Year.

• Went 35-11 overall and 23-5 to finish second in the WIAC. Finished the season ranked 14^th in the final D3baseball.com Top-25 poll. The 35 wins was the third most in a single season at UWL.
• Earned an at-large bid to the NCAA III National Tournament and was selected to host an opening round Regional. Went 2-2 with wins over Bethany Lutheran College (4-2) and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College (Calif.) (8-6). The Eagles then lost 11-2 and 6-2 to Claremont in the Regional Championship.
• Helped coach George Seaman who was named an ABCA/Rawlings Third Team All-American.
• Had six players earn All-Region honors including George Seaman, Anthony Vivian, Mac Born, Caleb Matl, Andrew Rajkovich and Nate Witte.

• UWL finished the 2024 season with the second most victories in a single season as they were 36-16 overall and 16-8 in WIAC play.
• UWL earned an at-large bid to NCAA III National Tournament and was selected host opening Regional tournament. The Eagles went 4-1 at the Regional to advance to their second consecutive NCAA III Super Regional. In a three-game series with UW-Whitewater, UWL won game one 3-2 before falling 8-0 and 8-2.
• Coached Mac Born who was named a D3baseball.com Second Team All-American.
• Had five players earn All-Region honors including George Seaman, Anthony Vivian, Mac Born, Chris VandenHeuvel and Nate Witte.
• Team finished with a school record 474 runs, 81 home runs and 425 RBIs.

• UWL finished 36-13 overall and 18-6 in the WIAC to finish second. Ranked 8^th on the final D3baseball.com Top-25 poll.
• Eagles won the WIAC Tournament to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA III National Tournament.  The tournament title was the Eagles third under Schwarz (2012, 2016, 2023).
• The Eagles advanced to the NCAA Division III Championships for the third time (2015, 2016, 2023) in school history. UWL earned the trip to the World Series by defeating UW-Stevens Point in a best of three series 2-1 (10-7, 20-24, 16-10).
• Schwarz was named the 2023 WIAC Coach of the Year along with the D3baseball.com Region Coach of the Year and the ABCA Region 9 Coach of the Year.
• Anthony Vivian was named a 2023 ABCA/Rawlings Fourth Team All-American
• Isaiah Katz was named D3baseball.com Region Pitcher of the Year and WIAC Pitcher of the Year.
• Tyler Schmitt was named WIAC Newcomer of the Year.

• Finished 24-18 overall and 16-12 to finish third in the WIAC.
• Mac Born and Jack Olver earned All-Region honors.
• Caleb Matl, Mac Born and Jack Olver named WIAC First Team All-Conference

• Teams qualified for the NCAA III National Tournament in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
• Schwarz led the Eagles to the NCAA Division III Baseball Championships in 2015 and 2016.
  • 2015 saw the Eagles go on a magical run as advanced to the best-of-three championships series where they fell 2-0 to SUNY Cortland to finish national runner-up.
  • UWL made a return trip to the NCAA III Championship in 2016 where they went 1-2 and finished fourth in the final D3baseball.com Top-25 poll.
• UWL has qualified 11 times for the WIAC Tournament.
• Led the Eagles to WIAC Regular Season Championships in 2012 and 2016.

• Earned her bachelor’s degree (2002) and master’s degree (2004) from UWL.
• Was a four-year letter winner for the Eagles baseball team.
  • WIAC Honorable Mention All-Conference 2002
  • Member of two WIAC Championship teams (1998, 2000)
  • Was second all-time (at time) in saves with 10
  • Set single season school record in saves (7) and appearances (19)
• Was a three-year letter winner for the Eagles football team
  • Member of the 1999 Conference Championship team

• Chris and his wife, Katie, live in Viroqua with their four kids.