The 2018-19 year marks head coach Eric Parker’s 4
th year at the helm of the cross country and track and field programs at Utica College after being an assistant for 5 years. Since being promoted in the fall of 2015, the cross country and track and field programs have continued to reach new heights at the conference, regional and national levels.
Below is a list of the Pioneer track and field/cross country achievements since Parker took over the program in 2015:
- 4 Empire 8 Conference team championships
- 2016 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field
- 2017 Men’s Outdoor Track and Field
- 2017 Women’s Cross Country
- 2018 Women’s Outdoor Track and Field
- 14 NCAA championship qualifiers
- 7 All-Americans
- 7 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors
- 16 USTFCCCA individual All-Academic honors
- 2016 NCAA Atlantic Region Indoor track athlete of the year
- 7th best women’s long jump in NCAA DIII history
- 2015-16 Empire 8 Conference woman of the year
- 4 Empire 8 Conference athletes of the year
- 6 Empire 8 Conference rookies of the year
- 4 Empire 8 Conference coaching staff of the year
- 93 Empire 8 Conference All-Conference (20 in cross country, 73 in track and field)
- 11 All-time Empire 8 Conference records
- 9 Empire 8 Conference meet records
Prior to being promoted to head coach, Parker was hired to lead the program’s sprinters and hurdlers starting in the fall of 2010. The contributions from the sprinters and hurdlers have helped elevate the track and field program from a nearly brand new program to one of the most successful event groups in the region. As an assistant his sprinters and hurdlers achieved the following:
- 3 All-Americans
- 7 NCAA championship qualifiers
- 4 Empire 8 Conference track athletes of the year
- 3 Empire 8 Conference rookies of the year
- 63 Empire 8 Conference All-Conference
- 1 Empire 8 Conference meet records
- 2 All-Time Empire 8 Conference records
Parker is a 2010 graduate of Iowa State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. An All-Big 12 Conference selection both on the track and in the classroom, Parker placed sixth in the 60m hurdles at the 2009 Indoor Championships, eighth in the 4x100m relay at the 2008 Outdoor Championships, 7
th in the 4x400m relay at the 2006 Indoor Championships and All-Academic honors twice. In 2007, he was part of the fastest shuttle hurdle relay team in the nation (Collegiate and Professional) and part of the second and third fastest shuttle hurdle relay teams in Iowa State University history. He currently holds the 5
th fastest 60 meter hurdle time in Iowa State University history.
Parker is a 2005 graduate of Northwood-Kensett High School (Iowa), where he was a three-time state champion, three-time state runner-up, 13-time state qualifier, and holds six school records. Parker was also a two-time All-State football and All-Conference basketball player while at Northwood-Kensett.
He resides in Herkimer with his wife, Jessica, and their two sons.
