APPLETON, Wis. -- The new Lawrence University head softball coach is a familiar face to followers of Vikings athletics.
    Appleton native and Lawrence alumnus Korey Krueger has been selected to lead the softball program, Director of Athletics Jason Imperati announced today.
    "It is a great pleasure to welcome Korey back into the Lawrence athletics family," Imperati said. "His coaching and life experience, combined with his intimate knowledge of Lawrence and the Midwest Conference, will be a major boost for the softball program.
    "Korey has a unique perspective when it comes to the student-athlete at Lawrence given his history as a standout athlete and long-time coach at the university. His work with training some of the finest players in the Fox Valley, along with coaching against some of the best teams in the Midwest, should pay dividends when it comes to recruiting outstanding players for our program." 
    A 1995 Lawrence graduate with a degree in English, Krueger served as Lawrence's head baseball coach for 10 seasons. He led the Vikings from 1998 through 2007 and served as an assistant football coach from 1998 through 2003. Krueger replaces Tracy Cromer, who retired from coaching after the 2024 season.
    "Meeting with the leadership, staff and especially the softball team influenced my decision to return," Krueger said. "There is an energy and direction in the department that I want to be a part of and contribute to as the softball coach."
    Krueger's teams won 102 games during his 10 seasons, and that total ranks second in baseball program history. Krueger took on a total rebuilding project with the Vikings and turned them into consistent contenders in the Midwest Conference's North Division. 
    Krueger left Lawrence to become a business owner while also continuing his burgeoning music career with long-time collaborator Anthony Arrington, also of the Lawrence class of 1995. Krueger owned and coached at Players Choice of the Fox Cities, an indoor sports facility, from 2008 through 2019. At the same time, Krueger was running and coaching the highly successful Panther Baseball Club through 2020.
    Since 2019, Krueger has been a personal coach for baseball and softball while operating The School, a baseball and softball training facility in nearby Kaukauna. The School has produced dozens of players who have gone on to play at all levels of collegiate baseball and softball.
    "I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Lawrence University Athletic Department again and eager to work with the softball team and colleagues," Krueger said.
    Krueger, who has a Masters degree in organization, leadership and quality from Marian University, has been deeply involved in softball for many years on a professional and personal level. While he has been coaching individuals and softball teams, he also guided the career of his daughter, Lydia Krueger, who was a standout player at St. Cloud State University.
    Krueger's creative side has long been present in music, but he went in another direction recently when he published the historic novel Trailing Redemption in 2019. Trailing Redemption earned a Bookfest Award for Best Biblical and Fantasy and Historical Piece.  
    A prep standout at Appleton West High School while playing for coaching legends Bruce Erickson and Paul Engen, Krueger made the short move across town to Lawrence where he was a two-sport athlete starring in baseball and football.
    A career .371 hitter for the Vikings, Krueger's batting average ranked second in school history when he graduated. A two-time first-team All-Midwest Conference performer in baseball, Krueger hit a school-record .508 in 1993. Also an outstanding pitcher, Krueger picked up 14 victories over his career while tossing 17 complete games. He posted a career-best 6-1 record in 1992 and set the season earned run average record at 2.67 in 1994. A two-year team captain, Krueger was an all-conference selection in the outfield and as a utility player.
    An all-conference performer in football in 1993, Krueger played defensive back for the Vikings.  
    Lawrence returns 11 players, led by All-Midwest Conference performer Mattigan Haller, from the team that went 14-24 this past spring.