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Baseball

COACH
Bob Gillespie
gillespier@ripon.edu
(920) 748-8774

ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH

Eric Cruise

cruisee@ripon.edu

 

Ripon College Athletic Department
(920) 748-8133
jessl@ripon.edu

 

Coach's Profile

Head Coach Bob Gillespie

Bob GillespieBob Gillespie is in his second stint as Ripon's head baseball coach, bringing the program to an all-time high in 2006 when the Red Hawks set the Midwest Conference record for wins, with 36. In that season, the Red Hawks became the first MWC team to go undefeated in a 16-game conference season. 2006 also marked Gillespie's fourth Conference title with the Red Hawk baseball program. He has won six MWC Championships in his head coaching tenure with the Ripon baseball team and has taken the Red Hawks to the NCAA Division-III playoffs on three occasions.

Gillespie, who served as Ripon's head coach for 16 years from 1979-1994, took control of the program a second time from his father, the legendary Gordie Gillespie, after Gordie's retirement at the conclusion of the 2005 season. The two combined to win four consecutive conference championships from 2004 to 2007. The younger Gillespie has amassed a career record of 321-249-3 (.563) over the course of his 21 seasons.

A 1971 graduate of Lewis University, Gillespie began his coaching career at Wausau Newman High School, where he coached both baseball and basketball. Gillespie received his master's degree from UW-Oshkosh in 1982.

In addition to his baseball coaching duties, Gillespie also serves as Ripon's head men's basketball coach. He and his wife Penny currently reside in Ripon.

 

Associate Head Coach Eric Cruise

Eric Cruise is in his tenth season as a coach with the Red Hawks.

Prior to Ripon, Cruise spent two years managing the Oshkosh Giants in a semi-pro league. He also spent one year as an assistant varsity caoch at Oshkosh West High School. In 2001, Cruise served as a media relations intern with the Chicago Cubs.


Cruise earned his bachelors degree in Mathematics Statistics from UW-Oshkosh in 2002 and received his Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from UW-Oshkosh in 2008.

A native of Oregon, Wis., Cruise graduated from Oregon High School in 1995. While in high school, Cruise earned two letters each in football and baseball. As a middle infielder, Cruise received the Jack Statz award as a senior, which is given to the senior that shows the most commitment to the program with hard work and dedication.

Cruise currently resides in Oshkosh.

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