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University of Massachusets Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2002
- Class:
- 1991
A three-time NSCAA All-America, (1988, 1989, 1990) in the midfield, April Kater earned the 1990 Hermann Trophy, given annually to the nation's top female collegiate soccer player.
A four-year letterwinner for the Minutewoman soccer team from 1987-90, she was a three-time all-New England selection who earned 1987 Soccer America Freshman of the Year honors, then garnered first team all-America awards in each of her final three seasons.
At the time of her graduation, her points (92), goals (35) and game-winning goals (12) marks all stood as school records.
The Minutewomen fashioned a 56-14-7 mark with Kater on the team, posting a school-record 20 wins during her freshman (1987) season. UMass advanced to the NCAA Tournament three times during her career, including a second place finish in 1987 and advancement to the quarterfinals in 1988 and 1989.
Kater captained the team as a junior and senior, and twice earned Adidas first team academic all-America honors. She also played in the 1989 and 1990 Olympic Sports Festivals.
Upon graduating from UMass in 1991 with a sport management degree, Kater began her coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at West Virginia Wesleyan University in 1991 and 1992. She returned to her alma mater as an assistant coach under Jim Rudy in 1993 and 1994, before being named the head women's soccer coach at Syracuse University.
At Syracuse, Kater started the program from scratch and guided the Orangewomen to a 87-57-8 record during her eight seasons at the helm, including two NCAA Tournament appearances and seven winning seasons.
Kater holds additional coaching experience at Colorado College as an assistant coach from 2006-13 and as the Director of Club Development for Real Colorado.
She was inducted into the UMass Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002.
