IU Indy Athletics

Chris Ulrey joins the IU Indy softball staff prior to the 2025-26 season bringing 16 years of experience as a coach, scout and instructor specializing in hitting. Of his 16 years, four were spent coaching at the NJCAA and NAIA collegiate level, three as an associate scout in professional baseball and eight coaching at the high school level.
 
Ulrey has been mentoring, developing and training baseball and softball youth, high school, collegiate and professional hitters since 2010. He has helped many hitters move on to play at the collegiate and or professional level over his 16 years of training athletes. He has helped athletes reach all levels NCAA DI, DII and DIII as well as NJCAA and NAIA level. Some of his most elite softball and baseball hitters he has worked with over the years are currently playing in the SEC, BIG10, BIG EAST and Southland Conference.
 
As a business owner in the sports and fitness industry since 2012, he has been involved and runs an 8U-18U travel sports academy. Within his academy, he is the Director of Hitting and Strength and Conditioning. Ulrey is Rapsodo and Driveline certified with hitting and also carries certificates from the American Sports & Fitness Association as a certified personal trainer, sport specific trainer and functional fitness trainer.
 
Ulrey spent four years coaching at NJCAA DII Kankakee Community College and NAIA Marian University as a hitting coach, outfielders coach and recruiting coordinator. Over his four-year span coaching at the college level, he has helped produce some of the top offenses in program history. Each year finishing in the top 25 in the country in multiple offensive categories: on base percentage, slugging percentage, RBI, walks, hit-by-pitch, stolen bases, doubles and home runs. Offensively, Ulrey helped develop four All-Region First Team selections, four All-Region Second Team selections, three All-Conference selections, two All-Americans, six Scholar-Athletes and four players who went on to sign professional contracts and play professionally.
 
After his four-year span coaching at NJCAA and NAIA level, he worked as an associate scout in professional baseball for the Texas Rangers. Ulrey helped to identify and evaluate talent of high school and collegiate players for upcoming Major League Baseball Drafts in the Midwest Region.
 
He also brings eight years of coaching experience at the high school level since 2010. Six of those in the head coaching position. Over the span of those years, he has compiled 100+ wins, three Sectional Titles, two Regional Titles, two Elite 8 Semi State appearances. He has also helped develop 12 All-Conference selections, eight All-County selections, one Conference Player of the Year and one County Player of the Year. Ulrey was named back-to-back All-Area Coach of the Year in 2024 and 2025 and voted District H IHSBCA Coach of the Year in 2025.
 
In July of 2025, Ulrey was hired as an assistant coach and hitting coach for LABC USA 16U National Team to represent the United States competing for gold in the Latin American Baseball Classic in the Dominican Republic. Ulrey and the USA 16U National Team finished with a 6-1 record and were crowned champions, bringing home a gold medal to the United States.
 
Ulrey is a 2006 graduate of New Palestine High School in New Palestine, Indiana. Ulrey and the New Palestine Dragons took home a IHSAA 3A State Championship in 2004 finishing their season with a 30-3 record. Over his high school career, he was three time All-Conference selection, three time All-County selection and Indy’s All-East Super Team selection. In 2006, he was named to the All-Rawlings High School Team and voted an Indiana High School All-State baseball player.
 
He was drafted professionally and selected in the Major League Baseball Draft by the Chicago White Sox in 2006. Ulrey ultimately chose to pursue a degree and play at the college level.
 
Ulrey spent his first two collegiate years playing at NJCAA Division I Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Illinois. He was an All-Conference selection and 2007 GRAC Conference Champions. Ulrey was nominated a sophomore All-Star and played in the NJCAA Sophomore All-Star game in 2008. He committed to NCAA Division I Eastern Illinois University after his final season and earned his associates degree at LTC.
 
His junior year at NCAA Division I Eastern Illinois University was cut short during season due to an elbow injury. After his injury, he returned to Indiana to finish out his collegiate playing career at NCAA Division II University of Indianapolis. Ulrey garnered GLVC All-Conference accolades and led the Greyhounds offense, hitting .347 with seven home runs and 61 RBI.
 
He earned his associates degree and studied business management and marketing. Ulrey currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana where he continues to shares a passion and love for mentoring, teaching, coaching and training athletes.