Eric Kraut had an immediate impact on the Yale program in his first season on the staff in 2017. The Bulldogs finished with their best Ivy League record since 2009 and entered the last day of the regular season still in contention for the North Division title.
Prior to Yale, Kraut spent seven years as the head coach of the Arctic Blast club softball program in Minnesota. Kraut guided the Blast to four Minnesota state championships (2009, 2010, 2014, 2015) and two appearances in the national tournament (2014, 2015).
He also has worked with the Eden Prairie, Minnesota, high school program and served as the director of player development for the Eden Prairie Fastpitch Association.
In addition, Kraut has experience in health and sports conditioning, working as the manager of group and personal training at the Elk River, Minnesota YMCA.
Kraut is a 1994 graduate of Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire where he was a four-year starter for the baseball team and set an NCAA record for home runs in a game. Following graduation, he played in the Cincinnati Reds Minor League system.
