Eric Ruppel is in his first year as Head Men's Lacrosse Coach at Emory & Henry University.

Ruppel joins the Emory & Henry staff after five years at Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois. He was the inaugural head coach for the 2020 season and following the COVID-19 Pandemic, he built the program from the ground up to 17 wins in the past three seasons including an 8-9 mark in 2023. During that 2023 season, the Hawks set new program records in nearly every major statistical category. His time with Quincy netted five All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selections, two James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Team Awards and one College Sports Communicators Academic All-American.

Before his time at Quincy, Ruppel was the Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator at Adams State University. While in Alamosa, he mentored two All-RMAC selections and four honorable mention student-athletes.

Ruppel previously served as the head coach at the University of Texas – Dallas where he earned Lone Star Alliance Conference Coach-of-the-Year honors in 2017. Under his leadership, UTD achieved an undefeated division championship, ended the season ranked 25th nationally, and earned several individual accolades, including three All-American Scholar Athletes.

Prior to joining the collegiate ranks, Ruppel led Plano Senior High School to the 2017 State Semifinals. The team finished fourth in the state and produced one all-state and five all-district players. His early coaching experience includes stints with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Centennial High School; Faith Lutheran High School; and the Las Vegas Starz organization.

Ruppel also serves as the head coach of the Mexico Lacrosse National Team which recently finished second in the Pan-American Lacrosse Cup.

Ruppel received his bachelor's degree in physical education with a minor in athletic coaching from UNLV in 2011. He holds a pair of master's degrees, earning a Master of Science in exercise science from Concordia University Chicago and a Master of Business Administration from Ottawa University in Kansas.

He is also certified as a CSCS, D*, and RSCC by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, where he has contributed to the NSCA Developing the Core series and sits on the NSCA Lacrosse Special Interest Group board.

-9/25/2024