Notes From the Field: Like No Other

As Furman University prepares to enter its third century of academic excellence and community building, a third piece of its success is the achievements of the Athletics department. For more than a century, Furman Athletics has delivered on its mission to represent the university with competitiveness and integrity. And that tradition of triumph is rolling.

A member of the Southern Conference since 1936 and the league’s most successful cardholder, Furman’s athletics strength has been broad-based. The product of talented student-athletes, tutelage from outstanding coaches and the support of the university, Furman has seen 151 SoCon championships and 136 NCAA Division I Tournament appearances over the years. And the investment from alumni, community and fans has made it all possible.

The Biggest Names

Walker Zimmerman

Furman alumni have been on the biggest stages and in the most high-profile competitions around the globe, including the World Cup (Clint Dempsey ’05, Ricardo Clark ’05, Walker Zimmerman ’15), Olympics (Dave Segal ’63, Angel Myers ’90, Robert Gary), Super Bowl (Sam Wyche ’66 (deceased), Stanford Jennings ’84, Ernest Gibson ’83), PGA (Brad Faxon ’83), LPGA (Betsy King ’77, Beth Daniel ’81, Dottie Pepper ’87, Sherri Turner ’79), NBA (Frank Selvy ’54 (deceased), Jalen Slawson ’23), WNBA (Rushia Brown ’94), MLB (Jerry Martin ’71, Tom Mastny ’03, Jay Jackson) and ATP Tour (Ned Caswell ’86). Following graduation, many student-athletes have taken their place among noted innovators and leaders in business, finance, medicine, law, education, research, public service and administration, broadcasting, coaching and many other fields.

“With its stellar past offering proof of the possible, Paladin Athletics is poised to continue its tradition of achievement as Furman prepares to celebrate its bicentennial as one of America’s great universities,” says Jason Donnelly, vice president for intercollegiate athletics. “Indeed, Paladin athletics is well along that path when considering the success we have experienced over the last five years.”

Continued Success

Since 2019, Furman’s athletics success has been highlighted by a run of 12 consecutive SoCon championships by both men’s and women’s cross country teams, coached by Robert and Rita Gary, who have produced eight All-Americans during that span, including the latest, Dylan Schubert ’25. His third-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships was the highest in program history.

Furman men’s soccer, the owner of 22 SoCon regular season and 12 league tournament titles, added another chapter to its remarkable history last fall when head coach Doug Allison guided his squad to a conference tournament crown and victory over nationally ranked North Carolina in NCAA Tournament first-round action.

Directed by Clay Hendrix ’86, Paladin football in 2023 recorded consecutive 10-win seasons and claimed the program’s 15th league championship on the way to an FCS quarterfinal playoff appearance.

The 2023 men’s basketball team won the SoCon championship and went on to the NCAA tournament where they upset Virginia.

The men’s basketball program has had a strong revival under head coach Bob Richey. In 2023, he directed Furman to the winningest season (28-8) in program history, its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1980, and a 68-67 first round tournament victory over Virginia.

“Furman basketball’s win over Virginia in the NCAA Tournament was a signature moment not only for our program but for the university and the entire Furman family,” Donnelly says. “It demonstrates the power of athletics and the role that it plays in uplifting the institution, not to mention the invaluable national exposure to prospective students and faculty.”

Notable success and NCAA Tournament representation have also been achieved by women’s soccer, women’s tennis and both men’s and women’s golf programs over the last five years, including Natalie Srinivasan being named the 2020 Women’s Golf Coaches Association National Player of the Year and Anna Morgan becoming a three-time All-American and the only person in SoCon women’s athletics history to garner that honor three times.

A Bright Future

In three of the last five years, Furman has been recognized as the most successful athletics program in the SoCon in the Learfield Directors’ Cup Competition.

Paralleling that success has been model academic achievement. In the latest reporting period in 2024, Paladin Athletics posted a 96% graduation success rate with nine of the school’s 18 sports posting perfect scores.

“The past five years are a testament to Furman’s uncompromising commitment to academics and athletics excellence,” Donnelly says. “We have tremendous students who chose to earn their degrees from Furman and compete at the Division I level, supported by world-class coaches, staff and faculty. We look forward to building upon our record-breaking success and leading our programs to new heights in Furman’s third century.”