CASTLETON, Vt. – Eric Kraut has been named the head coach of the Vermont State University Castleton softball program, Castleton Director of Athletics Tim Barrett announced on Tuesday.
Kraut brings extensive coaching experience to a well-established program. He has seen stops at all three NCAA Divisions including Yale, College of Staten Island and Rochester. Kraut also has a number of years of coaching experience at the club level, and was an accomplished baseball player who spent time in the Cincinnati Reds' farm system following his collegiate career.
"We're thrilled to be able to add someone of Eric's caliber to our staff," said Barrett. "His experience at a multitude of levels, his vision for the program and his passion for coaching really stood out throughout the interview process. I have no doubt that he will continue the success that this program has seen in recent years."
After seven years working at the club and high school level as a head coach and director of player development in Minnesota, Kraut joined the staff at Yale as an assistant coach in 2016. He was in charge of producing scouting reports, planning practice sessions, recruiting high-academic student-athletes and ran specialized camps and clinics for the Ivy League program.
In 2019, Kraut was named the head coach at the College of Staten Island and oversaw the transition from Division III to Division II while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. In his first full season on the diamond, Kraut guided two student-athletes to All-Conference honors and oversaw a team which posted a GPA of 3.50. During the transitional period, he brought in an average of seven new student-athletes per season to bolster his roster and grow his program.
Following his time at CSI, Kraut spent a season as an assistant coach with the University of Rochester, working extensively with the team's hitters to raise the program's offensive output and piece together a program-record 24-game winning streak. The team enjoyed national recognition throughout the year, ranking as high as No. 15 nationally before ending the season at No. 19 in the NFCA rankings. He was part of a staff that earned NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year accolades and helped in the development of two All-Americans and four All-Region honorees.
"I'm thrilled to join this amazing program," said Kraut. "I want to thank Tim Barrett and the hiring committee for this opportunity. I'm committed to creating an atmosphere where we all support and push each other to be our best. Together, we will honor the program's rich history and aim for even greater success."
Before beginning his coaching career, Kraut had a successful collegiate career at St. Anselm College. In 1994, he tied the NCAA Division II single-game record with four home runs in a contest, and graduated among St. Anselm's all-time leaders in a number of offensive categories. His prowess at the plate earned him a stint in the Cincinnati Reds' minor league system following his graduation.
The Spartan softball program has finished .500 or better in nine of its last 11 seasons and has made the Little East Conference postseason four years in a row.
