The Lancaster Bible College Athletic Department is pleased to announce the hiring of Tracy Cromer to the role of Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance and Softball Head Coach. Cromer, who takes over for Brad Brubaker who resigned in May, comes to Lancaster Bible from Greenville College in Illinois. 

In two seasons at Greenville, Cromer led the Panthers to a record of 47-39-1 and the program's first-ever NCAA Division III Softball Tournament appearance this past season as Greenville won the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title and finished with a record of 23-22-1. 

Prior to her stint at Greenville, Cromer was the head coach at Manchester College (Ind.) for six seasons, where she compiled a record of 109-126-1 and made three appearances in the Heartland Conference Tournament. She began her head coaching career at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul, Minnesota where she helped the Eagles to a mark of 102-97-2 over five seasons. Cromer guided Northwestern to a program-record 28 wins in 2008 and was named Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year three times in five seasons. 

In addition to leading the softball program at Lancaster Bible, Cromer will become the third Assistant Athletic Director on staff and take the lead on compliance within the department. She will also serve as Co-Chair of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The chance to guide the softball program and grow professionally with compliance was the initial draw to Lancaster Bible for Cromer, but according to Cromer, it evolved during the interview process.

"I love the team-approach of the athletic department and its focus to live out the school's mission," Cromer said. "I'm excited to grow professionally with the dual role and to be a part of a growing and up and coming athletic department and college. I want to help build upon the success of the college and build towards the future as well."

Cromer, who owns a career record of 258-262-4 (.496), will look to help the Lancaster Bible softball program which has come close to qualifying for the North Eastern Athletic Conference Playoffs during its first three seasons, but has yet to break through and earn a berth in the postseason.

"What I hope to do is build a culture and build a team that can fulfill the mission of the school and have excellence on and off the field," Cromer said. "We want to be a light to others on the field, in the classroom and in the community. We need to establish who we have in the program and establish a recruiting base so that we can begin to build the aforementioned program of excellence."

Lancaster Bible Director of Athletics Pete Beers shared Cromer's excitement about her new position.

"We are thrilled to add Tracy Cromer to our team," Beers said. "What excites me most is that she, first and foremost, desires to follow God's call in her life where ever and whatever that means. Her role in continuing to grow and establish a strong softball program and impact the ladies through mentorship is the venue that, in my opinion, plays to her greatest strength. We are also thrilled to add her to our administrative team and we are looking forward to having the benefits of her experienced perspective, the increased ownership of compliance in our department and the impact she can have with student-athletes in assisting with SAAC."

Cromer, who will begin working at Lancaster Bible next week, said she is grateful for the opportunity to come to Lancaster.

"I'd like to thank Pete Beers and the administration for the chance to work at Lancaster Bible College and continue to grow both as a coach and as a professional."