HARRISONBURG, Va. (EMU Athletics) – EMU Director of Athletics Carrie S. Bert has announced the hiring of Chris Madison as the Royals Head Softball Coach.
“We are excited to welcome Chris Madison to EMU and to the leadership of our softball program,” Bert said. “Chris brings a clear vision for where this program can go and, importantly, the organization, competitiveness, and commitment to the daily work needed to get there. He has high expectations for the team and a strong desire to build a program that is prepared to compete for the ODAC tournament while making the most of the resources and opportunities in front of us.”
Bert continued, “Chris also understands that Division III athletics is about more than what happens on the field. His approach to communication, practice preparation, and leadership reflects a genuine respect for our student-athletes as whole people, while still challenging them to grow and perform at a high level. His passion for EMU, willingness to listen, and experience as a former student athlete will serve him well as he builds relationships and moves the program forward. We are confident Chris’s experience in athletic facility operations and softball coaching across a range of age levels provides a strong foundation for him to lead our Royals and move the program forward.”
Madison comes to EMU from Wisconsin where he was the Director of Operations for Impact Sports Academy West from 2023 to 2025. During his time at ISA, he oversaw the day-to-day operation of a high-performance year-round training academy serving over 400 youth to college-level athletes. He worked with multiple softball programs while at ISA, from 8U all the way up to 16U, building a holistic approach to the athletes’ softball development.
He was the head coach of the premier 16U Royals team and, while coaching at ISA, was also the assistant coach at New Richmond High School. During his tenure with the Tigers, they won their first regional title since the 1995 season. He was also selected to coach at the 18U USSSA Minnesota All-State Softball Showcase.
Prior to his time at ISA, Madison was the Associate Head Baseball Coach at Lakeland University, a DIII program that plays in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. He was also the Head Baseball Coach at The Covenant School in Charlottesville.
No stranger to the Valley, and to the ODAC, Madison played his collegiate baseball at former ODAC-foe Ferrum College, before transferring and finishing his career at Southern Virginia. He was a team captain for the Knights and the team’s 2015 Pitcher of the Year. He continued his playing career with the Elkton Blue Sox of the RCBL before getting into coaching with Western Albemarle High School and the Charlottesville Tom Sox of the Valley Baseball League.
“I want to thank Carrie Bert, the search committee, and the team for their time, transparency, and trust throughout the entire process,” Madison said. “It is an incredible honor to return home to the great state of Virginia, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to build something truly special at Eastern Mennonite University. I am especially excited to compete in the ODAC, which is arguably the premier Division III softball conference in the nation. Finally, I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to my wife, CJ, for her unwavering support through every step of this journey. I am thrilled to get to work.”
— EMU Athletics —
