Field Hockey
- Title:
- Head Coach
Syracuse head coach Kathleen Parker is in her 29th year at the helm of the Orange program and stands sixth amongst active Division I coaches in career wins (306). She is one of the most experienced coaches in the nation and ranks 16th all-time among college field hockey coaches (all three divisions) and in total games coached (525). Parker has guided Syracuse to 16 of a possible 17 appearances in the BIG EAST Tournament, including 14 straight trips from 1989-2002.
In 2005, Parker recorded her 300th career victory with a 2-0 triumph against Massachusetts on September 30, making her the fifth Division I coach to ever reach the coveted milestone. The Orange finished the season with a record of 11-9 for the second straight year and appeared in the BIG EAST Tournament semifinals where it lost to Villanova.
Parker’s 25th anniversary fell on the heels of one of the most successful seasons in program history. In 2001, Parker’s Orange squad won the league’s regular season and tournament championships, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. The Orange finished with a 16-4 record and a final ranking of No. 18 in the national coaches poll. Parker took home the BIG EAST Coach of the Year award for the fourth time in her career. She was also selected as the 2001 Mideast Region Coach of the Year, marking the second time she won the honor.
Parker’s career coaching record is 306-205-14. In 2000, she joined an elite group of coaches when she notched her 250th career victory, becoming just the ninth Division I coach to reach that milestone.
Accolades Under Parker
Syracuse has one of the most well-rounded programs in the nation. Parker’s student-athletes succeed on the field, in the classroom and after graduation. She stresses the values of focus, determination, teamwork and fun.
Parker has coached 17 All-Americans since 1991, including 2004 second-team All-American goalkeeper Betsy Wagner. Her last first-team All-American was goalkeeper Audrey Latsko in 2002. More than 75 of her players have earned Academic All-America recognition.
As far as BIG EAST honors go, Parker has helped develop (on average) nearly five All-BIG EAST players per season. Last year, Heather Hess was named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year and joined Michelle Sola on the All-BIG EAST First Team. Second team selections included Ashley Fry and Paige Sullivan. From 1996-2000, Parker placed eight individuals on the conference’s all-rookie team.
During her 28 seasons as head coach, Parker has guided the Orange to 20 winning campaigns. Her teams have maintained a place in the Top 20 Coaches Poll for 10 of the past 15 seasons.
Parker was named BIG EAST Coach of the Year three consecutive seasons from 1993-1995, and in 1991, she was selected as the Mideast Region Coach of the Year.
Parker’s Philosophy
Throughout all of the success that she and the program have enjoyed, Parker still holds true to the same philosophy she possessed when she started on the job.
"Syracuse field hockey is intense about two goals: that each player performs to her maximum potential and that each person enjoys her efforts and achieves what she is capable of," Parker explains. "If we don’t have fun, then it’s not worth doing."
