APPLETON, Wis. -- T.J. Kohler is the new head baseball and assistant football coach at Lawrence University, Director of Athletics Robert Beeman announced Monday.
Kohler, who begins his duties at Lawrence Sept. 1, comes to Lawrence from Kenyon College, where he served as the assistant head baseball coach this past season.
"We are pleased to have T.J. join our Department of Athletics staff," Beeman said. "His enthusiasm, personable demeanor, and understanding of the challenges that face student-athletes at an academically strenuous institution make T.J. a great fit for Lawrence University."
A native of Marion, Ohio, Kohler said the mix of coaching baseball and football was the type of situation he was seeking.
"Having the opportunity to be a head coach with one of the sports I love and still be involved in some capacity with football makes it an ideal situation," Kohler said. "It's what I was looking for, and things have worked out well. It's a perfect match, and I am excited to become part of the Lawrence University family."
Kohler, who played football and baseball at Capital University, brings an impressive coaching background to Lawrence. He began his coaching career at Kenyon, where he served as an assistant football and baseball coach from June 2001-August 2003. He then coached football and baseball and served as the assistant director of athletics at Fairbanks (Ohio) High School during the 2003-04 academic year.
Kohler then spent the 2004-05 academic year at Washington and Lee University, where he worked as the special teams coordinator for the football team and was an assistant baseball coach. He moved to the University of the South for the 2005-06 academic year, and he was the assistant head baseball coach and coordinator of the passing game and special teams for the football squad.
Kohler, who has a bachelor's degree in sociology education and associate's degree in sports management from the Ohio State University, credited the coaches with which he has worked for his professional development.
"I wouldn't have had this opportunity if it weren't for guys like Matt Burdette at Kenyon, Jeff Stickley at Washington and Lee, and Scott Baker at the University of the South," said Kohler, who has a master's degree in health promotion and sport performance/health and physical education. "They are as big a part of this as anyone."
Kohler joins the football staff of Chris Howard and will coach the running backs. The baseball team returns 26 letterwinners from the squad that finished 12-21 and took third place in the North Division of the Midwest Conference this past season.
Kohler and his fiance, Kandi, have a daughter, Ashlee.