X

Australian named new head coach for Clarkson Women's soccer

Posted 12/17/10

The Clarkson University Athletic Department has announced the hiring of Sarah Raymond as its new head coach for Women’s Soccer. She will become only the six head coach in program history when the …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Australian named new head coach for Clarkson Women's soccer

Posted

The Clarkson University Athletic Department has announced the hiring of Sarah Raymond as its new head coach for Women’s Soccer. She will become only the six head coach in program history when the Golden Knights’ 30th season begins in 2011.

Though the search for a new women’s soccer coach was extended further beyond the New York region, Clarkson didn’t have to look far to find the successor for Laurel Kane, who has guided the Golden Knights for the past 10 seasons and will move into a full-time administrative role in the second semester of 2010-11. Raymond has served as the head women’s soccer coach for Liberty League rival Skidmore College for the previous eight years, posting a record of 89-42-20 over that time with seven conference tournament appearances and a pair of NCAA Tournament invitations as well.

“I’m very excited to start a new chapter of my coaching life at Clarkson,” coach Raymond remarked. “I’m looking forward to the challenge awaiting me and I am anxious to meet my team and get started with our preparation for the 2011 season. Clarkson has a great reputation academically and I look forward to continuing to build a women’s soccer program that equals that excellence.”

Under Raymond’s guidance, Skidmore recorded double-figures in victories in each of the past seven campaigns, reaching 13 victories in 2004, 2005, and in 2008, when the Thoroughbreds gained a post-season national ranking of 25th following an NCAA bow on a tie. That season, Skidmore posted 16 shutouts, allowing just eight goals in 22 contests.

"We are thrilled to have someone with Sarah's background, both in our league and in the international arena, joining the Clarkson Athletic staff," Clarkson Athletic Director Steve Yianoukos said. "Her record at Skidmore over the past eight seasons speaks for itself, and we expect that she will continue to have success at Clarkson University. I really look forward to Sarah joining our staff in January, and feel that she will quickly make her mark on the program."

A native of Darwin, Australia, Raymond was a member of the Australian Women’s National Team from 1991 to 2001, playing in the 1995 and 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments. Additionally, Raymond was the captain of the Australian team in 1996, and she also represented the World All-Stars team in a pair of 12-game exhibition tours against the United States National Team in both 1999 and 2000.

During her time with the Australian National Team, Raymond became the first female to be awarded a soccer coaching scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport, assisting in the training of Australia’s elite junior athletes. She followed up that high honor when she served as an ambassador and presenter for Australia at the World Health Congress in Chicago in 2000. She was also a SOCOG Team Leader at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in her native Australia. She gained her NSCSAA Advanced National Coaching License in 2006.

Prior to her eight-year run at Skidmore, Raymond was an assistant coach at Long Island University, obtaining her master’s degree in computer science. Previous to her playing career, Raymond had gained her bachelor's degree in applied science (physical education and mathematics) Phillip Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Australia in 1991.