Vermont State University Lyndon

* - Honorary Member

Longtime Lyndon Athletic Director and Head Cross Country Coach Christopher Ummer was inducted by Lyndon Hall of Famer and current Head Women's Volleyball Coach Sean Fisher '00.  Chris graduated from Castleton State College with a degree in Physical Education and Athletic Training in 1985.  He went on to earn a Master of Science in Athletic Training from Indiana State University in 1986.

Since graduating from Indiana State University, Chris has made a career out of his love for athletics.  He has held numerous administrative and coaching positions at Lyndon State College since 1986, when he was first hired as the head athletic trainer.  In 1998, he also took on the role of sports information director.  In 2004, Chris was named the director of athletics.

As director, Chris transitioned Lyndon from the NAIA to the NCAA. He has also taught many Exercise Science courses offered at LSC.

Over the past 23 years, Coach Ummer has brought both the men's and women's cross country teams to victory.  He has been the women's coach since 1993 and the men's coach since 1995.  During that period, he has been named conference, district, and regional Coach of the Year numerous times.  He is the only NAC coach of any sport or teams to be named Coach of the Year eight consecutive times.  Chris has also served as the conference and regional chair of cross country as well as men and women's regional NAIA rater.

Under Chris' leadership, the men's and women's cross country teams have advanced seven times to the NAIA National Championships, twice to the USCAA National Championships, and have won 26 conference titles.  In addition to the nine national qualifying teams, 20 individuals have qualified for national championships, which include three Academic All-Americans and four All-Americans.

Outside of Lyndon, Chris was the athletic trainer for the Vermont Mountaineers Collegiate Baseball Team from 2004-2006.  He served as the volunteer athletic trainer at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs during the spring of 2001.  He is also NATA certified.

In recent years, Chris has developed a passion for the mountains.  Although he is often found in the White Mountains, he continues to add to his climbing resume with peaks such as: Kilimanjaro, Pic de Orizaba, Everest base camp, Mount Rainier, and this winter Aconcagua in Argentina.

Chris and his wife, Erin, live in Lyndonville, Vermont and have three children.