Salem College

Salem College Interim Director of Athletics Chelsey Stewart announced that Robin Ramirez was named the program's head soccer coach on Monday, August 2nd, in a formal announcement.

Ramirez followed up his first season at Salem by posting a 6-10-2 mark in 2022, earning three wins at Varsity Field. The Spirits returned to the USA South Conference Tournament under Ramirez, facing eventual league tournament champion Methodist in the first round match. Ramirez also brought one of the most electrifying players in program history, Darilyn Nieto, in fold. Nieto would win three consecutive USA South Rookie of the Week awards to open her career and cap off the season by being named as the first-ever USA South Rookie of the Year in program history. 

In 2023, Ramirez helped Nieto repeat as a USA South First Team All-Conference performer, becoming the third in Salem soccer history to achieve the feat. With Nieto leading the way for Ramirez's offense, the Salem sophomore moved into a tie for fourth-most goals, 30, alongside Tarryn Bundy in program history. 

Ramirez concluded his first year at Salem with a 7-10-1 overall record, winning three matches against USA South Conference opposition along the way. He took over the reins of a program that had not taken the field since 2020, missing the entire 2021 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His seven victories equaled the win totals of his predecessors—Jay Callahan (2008-17) and Octavia Saunders (2018-20)—in their first season as well. His 2021 unit established the program record for most single-season saves (135) and tied the 2008 unit for 11th-most goals (35) in program history.

Ramirez claimed his first win at Salem by defeating Warren Wilson 9-0 on September 1st in Swannanoa, N.C. Three days later, the Spirits posted an 8-0 victory over Agnes Scott, improving the season to 2-0. Ramirez guided Salem to shutout wins over Sweet Briar (2-0) and Greensboro (1-0) in the first month of play. October’s first win also came in shutout fashion, 1-0, when Salem defeated Pfeiffer in USA South Conference action. The season concluded on October 23rd with a 3-2 overtime win over William Peace, when senior Ellie Montes drove home a Baylee Greenwood pass for the game-winning goal in the 102nd-minute.

Ramirez assumed the head coaching role at Salem after serving in the same capacity at Hollins for six seasons (2014-21). He began his collegiate coaching career at Eureka College, leading the women’s soccer program from 2011-14. In addition to his roles at Hollins and Eureka, Ramirez has worked on the Club Soccer circuit since 2004.

Ramirez, who became the third coach in Salem's program history after Jay Callahan and Octavia Saunders, piloted Hollins to four wins and 4.50 goals against average in 2019, the lowest since the 2013 campaign. His Hollins units earned Team Ethics Award of Merit on three occasions including 2016 (Silver), 2017 (Gold) and 2018 (Silver), along with being named as United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award recipients in 2018 and 2019.

Ramirez’s first head coaching job at the collegiate level came in 2011 at Eureka College. He inherited 11 players from the previous season and quickly expanded the roster to 17 within just one season. Two years later, in 2013, Ramirez’s second recruiting class helped lead the program to their most single-season victories (five) in program history and set six single-season program records along the way. As a result, his goalkeeper had the lowest goals against average in program history and Eureka posted the most overall wins since 2008 and most league wins since 2009.

Upon graduating from Fordham, Ramirez built his coaching career on the Club Soccer circuit with positions in San Francisco, California (San Francisco University High School) and the Bronx, N.Y. (Bronx House) before being named as the men’s assistant soccer coach at Manhattan College. During his two seasons with the Jaspers, Ramirez served as an assistant coach and director of soccer operations for the men’s program.

After earning 24 hours towards a master's degree in education with a focus in special education from Manhattan, Ramirez continued to develop as a soccer coach with positions at the Sports Domain Academy (Montclair, N.J.), Lindbergh Middle School (Peoria, Ill.), FC Metro Select Lil' Devils (Eureka, Ill.) and VBR Star (Roanoke, Va.) with a multitude of titles.