Head coach Chad Krempin helping Rouse baseball reach elite level

Photo Credit: Scott W. Coleman

Five years ago, the Rouse baseball program was coming off a season in which the Raiders failed to win a district game and finished the season on a 14-game losing streak.

Since then, Rouse has won two district titles, made the playoffs every year they’ve been held and is preparing to make its first-ever state tournament appearance Thursday night at Dell Diamond.

What changed before the season five years ago? Chad Krempin was hired as head coach.

“In coaching, there’s a switch,” Rouse athletic coordinator and head football coach Josh Mann said. “There are times when you have to know when to be the tough guy and get on them, hold the kids accountable and expect accountability out of them. But you’ve got to be able to flip that switch and be a role model and a friend.

“A special coach knows when and how to do that, and that’s Chad.”

This season is Krempin’s 19th year as a head baseball coach. He’s coached at Jarrell, Lampasas, Llano, San Angelo Central, and Salado has never had a losing season and has only missed the playoffs once in his career. He won his 400th career game earlier this season.

Thursday will mark his fourth trip to the state tournament, and he made the finals in 2016 with Salado.

“I read all I can, and I watch so many videos and I belong to so many streaming services that my wife probably thinks I’m crazy,” Krempin said. “It’s really my passion, and I’ve worked very hard, like a lot of people do, to be the best that I can.”

Krempin said he knew there was potential at Rouse, and the list of players he coached now playing at the collegiate level is very long.

Rouse pitching coach Josh Harris is in his second season with the Raiders after stints at Jarrell and Salado, while coach Dan Lapaglia originally went to Rouse to coach football, but has since found another role he likes as the first base coach.

“We work very hard in the offseason figuring out the jigsaw puzzle that is every season and putting guys in right positions,” Krempin said. “It’s kind of a system that I’ve put together with some good coaches. It’s worked out, and now we’re in a position where we’re going to be good year in and year out.”

From a player perspective, Krempin’s coaching style hasn’t changed since he got to Rouse. The end goal has always been the state tournament, so the last couple of weeks have been a little bit more vigorous.

“He really pushes us in practice trying to help us improve every day.” junior Carter Heinrich said. “Sometimes it gets intense, and we’ve got to run a little bit, but at the end of the day, he puts out the best nine, and we do everything to win.”

Mann said the thing that stood out about Krempin after looking at his resume was his confidence and his ability to translate that to the players. He's also respected, where if a difficult conversation needs to happen, he can have it.

Krempin did experience a first this season when after the 14-inning win over Dripping Springs last week, he jumped on top of the dogpile.

That’s something he'd like to do one more time this year.

“For the community and the kids most of all, the state tournament is exciting,” Krempin said. “The first time I was there, it was a few jitters and trying to do things you might not normally do, but now you just try to play the style you want to play.”

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Published at https://www.hillcountrynews.com/stories/head-coach-chad-krempin-helping-rouse-baseball-reach-elite-level,87322?