Jack Parker (ice hockey)

Jack Parker (born March 11, 1945) is the former head coach of the Boston University Terriers men's ice hockey team. The 2012–13 hockey season was Parker's 40th and final season as head coach of the Terriers, and his 47th over all at the school as a player or coach.

Playing career

Parker graduated from Catholic Memorial School in 1964. He played for the Terriers from 1965 to 1968. The team was a combined 77-22-4 while Parker was a center for the team. Parker played on three Beanpot Championship teams and two teams which played in the NCAA tournament placing fourth in 1966 and second in 1967. Parker was captain of the team during his senior year on the team. Interestingly, Parker played against Boston College's current coach Jerry York while York was at BC and in high school.^[1]

Coaching career

Immediately after graduating, Parker was named head coach at Medford High School. After only one year, he returned to BU as an assistant under his former college coach, Jack Kelley, and helped lead the Terriers to two consecutive national championships in 1971 and 1972. After Kelley retired, Parker was promoted to B-team coach under his predecessor, Leon Abbott.

Abbott was abruptly fired on December 21, 1973 for withholding information about the eligibility of two Canadian players who had played junior hockey in their native country, even though a judge questioned the constitutionality of the rules allegedly violated. Parker was named his successor.^[2]

He entered the 2011-12 season with an overall record of 876-456-113 (.645). He is only the third coach to top 800 wins, and the first to do it with one team. His 876 wins are far and away the most in BU history, and the most for any collegiate coach at one school. He ranks second in total wins among active coaches, and third overall, behind only Jerry York and retired Coach Ron Mason. Jack Parker was named the NCAA Coach of the Year three times, the first after the 1974-75 season, again after the 1977-78 season and a third time after 2008-09. Parker was also named the Hockey East Coach of the Year after the 1985-86, 1991–92, 1999–2000, 2004–05 and 2005-06 seasons. On January 30, 2009, Parker claimed his 800th win in a 3-1 victory over Merrimack College. On April 11, 2009, Parker won his 30th NCAA tournament game and third team national title.

Parker has had a hand in more than two-thirds of BU's all-time wins. Apart from his one year as Medford High's coach, he has spent his entire adult life at BU as a player, assistant coach and head coach.

Parker is loved and revered by Boston University students; so much, in fact, that Rhett's, a popular grill, has unveiled the Parker Burger. It is a Cheeseburger consisting of fresh, not frozen ground beef, bleu cheese, and bacon.

Retirement

On March 11, 2013, Parker announced that the 2012-13 season would be his last, telling BU Today “Forty years is a long time to be at the same institution in the same job. I think I’m a little long in the tooth. I don’t think I’ve had the focus I need to have. I haven’t lost a step, but I don’t want to lose a step."^[3]

College Head Coaching record^[4]

†Jack Parker replaced Leon Abbott mid-season

Notable players

A list of notable players whom Parker has coached:

• Tony Amonte, Former NHL player
• Bob Deraney, Providence Friars women's ice hockey coach (1999–present)
• Jim Craig, 1980 Miracle on Ice Olympian
• John Cullen, Former NHL player
• Rick DiPietro, First goaltender selected with the number-one pick in an NHL entry draft. See 2000 NHL Entry Draft
• Chris Drury, Hobey Baker Award winner in 1998
• Mike Eruzione, Captain of the 1980 Miracle on Ice Olympic hockey team
• Matt Gilroy, Hobey Baker Award winner in 2009
• Shawn McEachern, Former NHL player
• Rick Meagher, Former NHL player
• Jack O'Callahan, 1980 Miracle on Ice Olympian. Former NHL player
• Jay Pandolfo, Former NHL player
• Tom Poti, Former NHL player
• Travis Roy, Quadriplegic who injured himself eleven seconds into his first-ever shift, only player to have his number retired by Parker
• Dave Silk, 1980 Miracle on Ice Olympian
• Keith Tkachuk, Former NHL player
• Ryan Whitney, Current NHL player

See also

• List of college men's ice hockey coaches with 400 wins

References

External links

• Boston University profile