Coaches

April Raymer

Associate Head Coach

April.Raymer@Furman.edu

864-294-3071

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April Raymer is in her 15th season with the Furman women's soccer program. She was promoted to the position of associate head coach in May of 2015 after serving as assistant coach for seven seasons.

Raymer helped the Paladins to a 12-6-1 overall record and 6-3-0 league mark in 2021 as Furman claimed a second place finish in the Southern Conference standings and advanced to the SoCon championship final once again. Sophomore Nieva Gaither garnered SoCon Player of the Year honors to become the second straight Paladin to earn the award.

In 2020-21, the Paladins had five United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region selections en route an 8-1-2 overall record, 6-0-2 league mark, SoCon Tournament title and the school's eighth NCAA Tournament berth. Furman climbed to as high as No. 29 in the College Soccer News Top 30 and No. 9 in the NCAA RPI. Raymer coached junior Isabella Gutierrez to SoCon Player of the Year honors and Nieva Gaither to Freshman of the Year accolades.

The 2019 Paladins captured their ninth SoCon regular season championship in program history after finishing 14-6-1 overall and 7-1-1 against league opponents. Five players received All-SoCon honors while Jasmine Greene was named the conference Freshman of the Year.

In 2018, she helped Furman to a 12-7-0 record and the program's fourth Southern Conference Tournament finals appearance in the last seven seasons. Junior Caitlyn Reilly earned first team All-SoCon honors and senior Virginia Poe captured second team All-SoCon accolades, while Erin Houlihan and Grace Baghdady were named to the SoCon All-Freshman squad.

In 2017, Raymer helped the Paladins to a 13-3-2 overall record, 8-0-1 league mark and a share of the SoCon regular season title. Six Paladins earned first team All-SoCon honors, including Molly Dwyer, Rachel Shah, Sanon Williams, Jordan Evens, Quinn Lombard and Kellsey Weaver. Furman set a single season school record by allowing just 11 goals in 18 matches.

With the help of Raymer, Furman posted a 13-5-1 overall record in 2016 to register its sixth straight season with 12 or more victories and 20th consecutive winning season. Forward Carlie Couch and midfielder Rachel Shah earned first team All-SoCon honors as Furman had five players earn all-conference honors and placed three on the SoCon All-Freshman squad.

Raymer helped the Paladins to their six Southern Conference Tournament title and seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015 after the squad posted a 17-5-1 overall record and finished second in the SoCon standings with a 7-1-1 mark. Senior Stephanie DeVita, the league's all-time goal scorer and female athlete of the year, garnered first team All-SoCon honors along with junior Carlie Couch.

Raymer helped the 2014 Paladins post a 13-4-2 overall record and 6-1-2 Southern Conference mark.  Six Paladins earned All-SoCon honors, including four on the All-SoCon first team last season.  DeVita was named SoCon Player of the Year for the second time in three seasons, while senior Catie Moore was named as the league’s first defensive player of the year.

In 2013, Raymer helped guide Furman to a 17-4-2 overall record, 8-1-1 Southern Conference mark, league regular season title, SoCon Tournament title and the school’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 2007.  The Paladins placed six players on All-SoCon teams while earned SoCon Coach of the Year honors and forward Carlie Couch garnered league freshman of the year accolades.

Raymer served as head coach at NAIA member Columbia College for two seasons before joining the Furman staff. Prior to her stint in Columbia, S.C., she served as head coach at Travelers Rest High School in 2005.

A native of Marietta, Ga., Raymer helped the Paladins to a 45-20-3 overall record and 29-2-1 SoCon mark in her three-year career at Furman. She led Furman to league regular season titles in 2002 and 2003 while guiding the Paladins to SoCon Tournament crowns in 2002 and 2004. The defender, who scored seven goals and added 10 assists in her career for Furman after transferring from Wake Forest prior to the 2002 campaign, earned first team All-SoCon honors as a junior and senior. She also captured All-SoCon Tournament accolades as a sophomore.

Raymer, Gatorade's Georgia Player-of-the-Year as a senior at Wheeler High School, earned a degree in communication studies from Furman in 2005. She is married to 2006 Furman graduate Sam Tooker and enjoys running and hiking. The couple have three children: Hobbes, Dylan and Twain.

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