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Head Coach Bob Gillespie
Bob 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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