In the fall of 2013 Coach Parker will start his 19th year as the Iowa City West Girls Cross Country head coach. He just finished his 16^th season as the Head Girls Track and Field Coach. Since taking over the Iowa City West programs he has been on a mission to build and maintain the kind of foundation that would assure that the Women of Troy consistently contend for conference, state and national honors every year. Mission accomplished. The Women of Troy have achieved a level of excellence over the last 18 years paralleled by no team in the state.

            Under Parker’s guidance the Iowa City West Girls Track & Field teams have won 6 State Championship team titles, the 3rd most in state history. Won 9 Regional Championship team titles, more than any school in class 4A in the last 16 years. Won 13 Mississippi Valley Conference team titles, the most by any school in the conference in the last 16 years. Parker ranks 3rd All-Time in most track & field team state titles by one coach.  Add that success to his amazing achievements in cross country. Parker has led the Iowa City West girls cross country teams to 5 State Championship team titles as well, 4th most All-Time. Won 13 Mississippi Valley Conference cross country team titles and 13 straight Regional championship cross country titles. Totaling an amazing 11 State Championship team titles in his first 18 years at Iowa City West. As well as a total of 26 Mississippi Valley Conference team titles and 22 Regional team titles. He also has collected 7 State Championship Runner-up trophies along the way as well. In his last 31 consecutive trips to the Iowa High School State Championships in cross country and track & field his team has either won the State team title or been the state team runner-up 18 times.

            Parker has coaching experience in all events in track & field. His focus has always been on finding success with a well balanced team. He came to Iowa City West after coaching at Clear Creak Amana Middle School, West Branch High School and Mount Saint Clare College. During his tenure the Women of Troy have set new school records in 18 of the 19 events, set 9 All-Time State Championship records, 3 Drake Relays records and 4 Iowa All-Times Best Records. His teams have also held both the track & field and cross country State Championship scoring records. The 2010 season brought success at the state championships, winning the state team title by 24 points, the largest margin in 4A history and set 2 All-Time records. In 2001 the West High girls cross country team won the state title with 28 points the lowest score ever recorded at the

 State meet and is the only team to ever place 5 girls in the top 10 at the State Championships.

            Parker has been recognized by his peers at the highest level having been selected the Iowa High School State Coach of the Year or the At-Large Coach of the Year 22 times by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches, most recently as 2013. The Mississippi Valley Conference coaches have selected Parker as the M.V.C Coach of the Year 18 times. In 2004 he became the first coach in Class 4A state history to be voted both the Girls Track & Field State Coach of the Year and the Girls Cross Country State Coach of the Year both in the same calendar year. Parker has four times been nominated for the National Federation of High Schools National Coach of the Year award, in 2013, 2008 & 2009 for track & field and in 2004 for cross country.

            The Iowa City West High girl’s track & field team has enjoyed unprecedented success. They won 3 straight State Championship team titles in 2008, 2009, 2010, tying them for 3rd most in state history. Not only had they won 3 straight state titles but they were the 3 time undefeated state champions as well heading into the 2009 season, only having lost 1 time in 4 years.

            Not only has Parker coached his athletes to be competitive on the state level but on the national level as well. He has coached 78 track & field state champions, 5 cross country individual state champions, 9 All-Americans, 16 Drake Relays Champions and 9 All-Time State Record holders. His 5 individual cross country state champions is the most by any coach in state history. In just 16 years Parker has sent 31 of his cross country and track & field girls on to compete at the Division I level, and many others to Division II and Division III. During this year’s track & field season an amazing number of 9 West High girls will be competing on the DI level in the same year across the United States.

            Parker ran collegiately at the University of Kansas for the legendary coach Bob Timmons and had the opportunity to train with and learn from America’s greatest distance runner former world record holder and Olympic silver medalist Jim Ryun. Parker is a Level I certified coach with USATF, a member of the Iowa Association of Track Coaches, National Federation of State High School Associations, USA Track & Field and USA Track Coaches Association.

When he is not at practice or a meet with his West High teams he is enjoying another career passion of his, motivational speaking. Parker is a very successful motivational speaker, consultant and life coach. He has been delivering his highly motivational and inspirational presentations for over 14 years to large corporations, small businesses, high schools, colleges and a wide variety of organizations. You can check out his motivational speaking website at www.Mike-Parker.com.