University of Wisconsin, La Crosse Men's Baseball

Chris Schwarz begins his 21st season as head baseball coach at UW-La Crosse in 2024-25.  The Eagles earned their eighth National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Tournament appearance, including second straight, in 2024. UWL was 36-16 in 2024, advancing to the NCAA Division III Super Regional. The Eagles captured the regional title with a pair of victories over Coe College (Iowa). The 36 victories are tied for second-most in single-season school history. UWL was second at the 2024 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament.  The Eagles were 14th in the final D3baseball.com/National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Top-25 Poll. UWL recorded its seventh 30-win season in school history in 2024, all coming under Schwarz. UWL won a school record 39 games in 2016, finishing 39-10 overall and advancing to the NCAA Division III Championships.  UWL finished 36-13 overall and 18-6 in the WIAC in 2023.  The Eagles advanced to the NCAA Division III Championships for the third team (2015, 2016, 2023) in school history. The 36 wins are tied for second-most in single-season school history. The Eagles earned the trip to the national championships after capturing the NCAA Division III Super Regional with a 16-10 victory over UW-Stevens Point. UWL advanced to the Super Regionals after winning the NCAA III Regional with a 16-3 victory over Bethel University (Minn.). Schwarz led UWL to the 2023 WIAC Tournament title with a 7-2 victory over UW-Whitewater. He was selected the WIAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career (2006, 2012, 2016, 2023).  Schwarz was also voted the 2023 D3baseball.com All-Region Coach of the Year for the fourth time (2012, 2015, 2016, 2023) and the 2023 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Region 9 Coach of the Year for the third time (2015, 2016, 2023).  UWL has advanced to the WIAC Tournament in 14 different seasons under Schwarz. The Eagles finished 24-18 overall and 16-12 in the WIAC in 2022. The 2018 and 2020 conference tournaments were not held. UWL finished 30-13 overall and 19-9 in the in 2021.   Schwarz earned his 400th career win with UWL's 5-4 victory over UW-Oshkosh on May 12, 2021.  He is one of six coaches in WIAC history to record 400 career wins.  The winningest coach in school history with a 499-330-2 (.602) record in 20 years at UWL, Schwarz earned his 300th career win in the Eagles' 5-0 victory at UW-Oshkosh April 13, 2017.  UWL is 366-189-1 (.659) overall in the last 13 years under Schwarz. The Eagles are 195-90 (.684) in the WIAC the last 12 seasons.  The Eagles have earned 121 All-WIAC awards under Schwarz, including 64 first team selections.  At least four players have been named to the all-conference first team seven of the last 10 seasons and in eight of the last 12 years.  Mac Born, Isaiah Katz, Tyler Schmitt, George Seaman and Chris VandenHeuvel were named to the 2024 All-WIAC First Team. Born earned D3baseball.com All-America Second Team honors in 2024. Born (First Team) and VandenHeuvel (Second Team) were both D3baseball.com All-Region selections. Born, Seaman, VandenHeuvel and Anthony Vivian were all named to the 2024 ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Second Team while Nate Witte earned ABCA/Rawlings Third Team accolades.  Owen Anderson, Born, Katz, Schmitt and Vivian were voted to the 2023 All-WIAC First Team with Katz being selected the WIAC Pitcher of the Year and Schmitt the WIAC Newcomer of the Year.  Born (Second Team), Katz (First Team), Schmitt (Second Team) and Vivian (Second Team) earned 2023 D3baseball.com All-Region honors. Katz was also selected the D3baseball.com Region Pitcher of the Year and to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Second Team. Schmitt was named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Third team and Vivian to the First Team. Vivian was selected to the 2023 ABCA/Rawlings All-America Fourth Team.  Born, Caleb Matl and Jack Olver were voted to the 2022 All-WIAC First Team. Born was named to the 2022 ABCA and D3baseball.com All-Region 9 First Teams while Olver earned second team honors on both squads.  Zach Carney, Zach Pronschinske and Brennan Schmitt were selected to the 2021 All-WIAC First Team with Born being named the 2021 WIAC Newcomer of the Year. Eight players, Justin Anderson, Caleb Boushley, Alex Brown, Alex Cordova, Nate Heili, Carter Hoffman, Troy Kenkel and Taylor Kohlwey, were selected to the 2016 all-conference first team. UWL became the first school in WIAC history to earn the coach, position (Kohlwey) and pitcher (Boushley) of the year awards in the same season in 2016. Anderson, Boushley and Kohlwey each earned NCAA III All-America accolades in 2016, including Kohlwey who received the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Bat Award for the National Player of the Year.  Kohlwey was selected in the 21st Round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft by the San Diego Padres. Boushley, named to the 2017 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-America Second Team and 2017 D3baseball.com All-America Second Team, was picked in the 33rd of the 2017 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres. Pitcher Joel Effertz was taken in the 28th Round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins.   The Eagles finished 28-15 overall and 19-5 in the WIAC in 2019, advancing to the league tournament championship game for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.  Schwarz led UWL to its third straight NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championship game in 2017.  The Eagles finished 31-19 overall in 2017, marking its fourth 30-win season in school history, including third straight.  UWL made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship in 2015 and 2016. UWL made its first ever appearance in the NCAA III Championship in 2015 in Appleton, Wisconsin, advancing to the best-of-three championship series and a runner-up national finish.  The Eagles finished third in the final 2015 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Collegiate Baseball and D3baseball.com Polls. UWL made its second straight appearance in the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship in 2016.  The Eagles were fourth in the final 2016 ABCA/Collegiate Baseball and D3baseball.com Polls.   The Eagles made their fifth appearance in the last six years in the NCAA Division III Championship in 2017.  UWL won back-to-back NCAA III Midwest Regional titles at La Crosse's Copeland Park in 2015 and 2016.  The Eagles went 4-0 at the 2016 NCAA III Midwest Regional and 5-1 in 2015.   UWL has won 499 games under head coach Chris Schwarz. Named the 2016 ABCA/Diamond Midwest Regional Coach of the Year for the second straight season, Schwarz led UWL to 39-10 overall and 18-2 mark in the WIAC, winning its 14th regular-season conference title in school history. He was also selected the 2016 D3baseball.com All-Midwest Region Coach of the Year for the third time in his career (2012, 2015, 2016).  UWL set single-season school records for wins (39), runs (452), hits (648), doubles (125), triples (25), RBI (396), batting average (.370) and slugging percentage (.527) in 2016.  The pitching staff set school a record for strikeouts (368) while recording the second-most innings (404.1) in school history.  The Eagles' six shutouts in 2016 tied for the second-most in school history while its .248 opponents batting average was the lowest since a .237 average in 1999.  Selected the 2015 ABCA and D3baseball.com Midwest Region Coach of the Year, Schwarz became UWL’s career leader in coaching victories with a 6-0 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham (N.J.) March 18, 2015. The Eagles set single-season school records for wins (36), games (52), at-bats (1,797), hits (577), doubles (105), triples (21) and total sacrifices (71) in 2015.  The pitching staff tied a school record saves (10) while setting a mark in innings (448.1).  UWL’s 3.65 earned run average ranked fifth in single-season school history and was its lowest since compiling a 3.04 ERA in 1999.  The Eagles went 36-16 overall and 17-7 in the WIAC in 2015.  In 2014, UWL finished 26-18 overall and 16-7 in the WIAC while advancing to the conference tournament championship game for the third straight season.  The Eagles also qualified for the NCAA III Midwest Regional. UWL set single-season school records for runs (400), hits (548), average (.348), RBI (354), doubles (100), triples (20) and total sacrifices (59).  The 2014 squad also obtained the program's highest fielding percentage in 15 years (.963). UWL finished 34-11 overall and 21-2 in the WIAC in 2012, setting single-season school records for overall and league victories. The Eagles won their first WIAC title since 2000 and first outright conference championship since 1978.  The team won its second (2000) WIAC Tournament title in school history with a 9-1 victory over UW-Whitewater in 2012, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships.  UWL made its first-ever appearance in the national tournament in 1998.  Schwarz was named the 2012 WIAC and D3baseball.com Midwest Region Coach of the Year. He was also named the 2012 Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association (WBCA) Coach of the Year.  It marked the second time he earned the WIAC and WBCA honors after leading UWL to a 22-19 overall and 15-9 conference record in 2006.  The Eagles finished 21-21 overall and 10-13 in the WIAC in 2013 under Schwarz, advancing to the conference tournament championship game.   Schwarz earned his bachelor’s (2002) and master’s (2004) degrees from UWL.  He was a four-year baseball letter winner for the Eagles and named to the 2002 All-WIAC Team after pitching in a school record 19 games.  He went 2-1 with a 4.32 earned run average and had a team-leading seven saves in 2002, tied for second-most in single-season school history. Schwarz is tied for fourth in career saves at UWL with 10.  A member of two WIAC Championship teams (1998, 2000), Schwarz was an Eagles’ team captain in 2002. He also earned three letters with the UWL football team and was a member of the conference champion squad in 1999.  Schwarz was named to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll in 2001 and 2002. Schwarz and his family reside in Westby.

Matt Zieba begins his 10th year as an assistant coach with the UW-La Crosse baseball program in 2024-25. He coaches the outfielders and assists with hitters. He came to UWL after serving as head baseball coach for six seasons at Tomah (Wis.) High School, earning Mississippi Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2011.  Zieba currently teaches middle school health in the Onalaska (Wis.) School District. Zieba helped lead UWL to its seventh National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Tournament appearance in school history, including second straight, in 2024. UWL was 36-16 in 2024, advancing to the NCAA Division III Super Regional. The Eagles captured the regional title with a pair of victories over Coe College (Iowa). The 36 victories are tied for second-most in single-season school history. UWL was second at the 2024 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament.  The Eagles were 14th in the final D3baseball.com/National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Top-25 Poll. UWL advanced to its third NCAA Division III Championship in 2023 after making back-to-back appearances in 2015 and 2016. The Eagles finished 36-13 in 2023, tying for the second-most wins in single-season school history.  UWL captured the NCAA Division III Super Regional with a 16-10 victory over UW-Stevens Point. The Eagles advanced to the Super Regionals after winning the NCAA III Regional with a win over Bethel University (Minn.).  UWL won the 2023 WIAC Tournament with a 3-0 record. The Eagles finished eighth in the final D3baseball.com/NCBWA Top-25 Poll.  UWL advanced to the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championship game in Zieba's first two years on staff, including in 2016 and 2017.  The Eagles captured the 2016 NCAA III Regional title while advancing to the NCAA III Championships in Appleton, Wisconsin. UWL completed its 2016 season with a 39-10 overall and 18-2 record in the WIAC. The team captured the 2016 and 2017 WIAC Tournament Championship in earning an automatic bid to the national tournament.  The Eagles were fourth in the final 2016 ABCA/Collegiate Baseball and D3baseball.com Polls.  UWL set single-season school records for wins (39), runs (452), hits (648), doubles (125), triples (25), RBI (396), batting average (.370) and slugging percentage (.527) in 2016. UWL finished 31-19 overall in 2017, marking its fourth 30-win season in school history, including third straight. The Eagles advanced to the NCAA III Midwest Regional Championship game.  UWL also played in the 2019 WIAC Tournament title game.  UWL went 30-13 overall and 19-9 in the conference in 2021. He earned his undergraduate degree from UWL in 2006 in health and physical education, and his master's degree from UWL in 2015 in school health education.  A four-year letter winner for the Eagles, Zieba earned All-WIAC Honorable Mention accolades in 2004 and 2005 as an outfielder.   A career .328 hitter, Zieba is tied for 18th in career doubles (28) and ranks 21st in career hits (135) at UWL.  His 62 hits in 2004 is tied for 14th in single-season school history while his 13 doubles in 2004 are tied for 18th.   Zieba and his wife, Amanda, live in Holmen with their two sons, Kameron and Riley. 

Scott Gillitzer begins his 18th season with the UW-La Crosse baseball program in 2024-25, including his seventh as a full-time assistant.  He serves as the Eagles' assistant head coach, hitting instructor and recruiting coordinator.  Gillitzer helped lead the Eagles to their seventh National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Tournament, including second straight, in 2024. UWL was 36-16 in 2024, advancing to the NCAA Division III Super Regional. The Eagles captured the regional title with a pair of victories over Coe College (Iowa). The 36 victories are tied for second-most in single-season school history. UWL was second at the 2024 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament.  The Eagles were 14th in the final D3baseball.com/National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Top-25 Poll. UWL finished 36-13 in 2023, tying for the second-most wins in single-season school history.  UWL captured the NCAA Division III Super Regional with a 16-10 victory over UW-Stevens Point to advanced to the NCAA Division III Championships for the third time (2015, 2016, 2023) in school history. The Eagles advanced to the 2023 Super Regionals after winning the NCAA III Regional with a win over Bethel University (Minn.).  UWL won the 2023 WIAC Tournament with a 3-0 record and finished eighth in the final D3baseball.com/NCBWA Poll. Gillitzer helped lead the Eagles to their third straight NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championship game in 2017.  UWL finished 31-19 overall in 2017, marking its fourth 30-win season in school history, including third straight.  UWL made its first ever appearance in the NCAA III Championship in 2015 in Appleton, Wisconsin, advancing to the best-of-three championship series and a runner-up national finish.  The Eagles finished third in the final 2015 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Collegiate Baseball and D3baseball.com Polls.  UWL made its second straight appearance in the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship in 2016.  The Eagles were fourth in the final 2016 ABCA/Collegiate Baseball and D3baseball.com Polls.   The Eagles made their fifth appearance in the last six years in the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2017.  UWL won back-to-back NCAA III Midwest Regional titles at La Crosse's Copeland Park in 2015 and 2016.  The Eagles went 4-0 at the 2016 NCAA III Midwest Regional and 5-1 in 2015.  UWL set single-season school records for wins (39), runs (452), hits (648), doubles (125), triples (25), RBI (396), batting average (.370) and slugging percentage (.527) in 2016. A native of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, Gillitzer played baseball at Madison (Wis.) Area Technical College (MATC) for two years (1997-99) before transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for two seasons (1999-2001).  He earned his undergraduate degree at UW-Milwaukee in sociology in 2001. Gillitzer earned National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) First Team All-America honors at MATC in 1999.  He also earned all-region, all-state and all-conference awards in 1999. Gillitzer earned Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC) First Team honors at second base for UW-Milwaukee in 2001 and was named the MCC Tournament Most Valuable Player.  He was an American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-Mideast Region First Team selection in 2001.  He was also selected to the 2000 All-MCC Second Team at shortstop. He was drafted in the 22nd Round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2001.  He played in the Dodgers' minor league system from 2001-04. Gillitzer coached at UWL from 2005-07.  He served as a graduate assistant coach at Winona (Minn.) State University from 2007-10.  Gillitzer also worked as the La Crosse Loggers hitting coach from 2006-08 in the Northwoods League.  He was the La Crosse NorthStars American Coach in the summer 2011. Gillitzer and his wife Bobbi and daughter Ellie, reside in La Crosse.