Dale Parker was selected as eighth head men's soccer coach in Lincoln Memorial University program-history on Feb. 10, 2022. He comes to Harrogate by the way of Lander University and Appalachian Football Club.
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During Parker's time at Lander, he helped the Bearcats to success in three years as the lead assistant. Under his guidance, he helped the Bearcats to a Peach Belt Regular Season Title (2021) and coached 10 Lander athletes to Peach Belt All-Conference honors including two PBC Freshman of the Year and one PBC Player of the Year honor. In addition to those awards, Parker helped Tom Marriott to a United Soccer Coaches First Team All-America honor, the first first-team honor in Lander program-history. Parker was also part of the staff awarded United Soccer Coaches Regional Staff of the Year (2021).
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In addition to his role at Lander, Parker is also the head coach of the Appalachian Football Club in the National Premier Soccer League. In their inaugural season, he led the program to a third-place finish in the NPSL Southeast Conference, making it to the conference semi-finals in year one. In his second season (2022), Parker led his team to the Southeast Conference Regular Season title, Southeast Conference Tournament title, and went on a run that ended in the National Quarter Final (Regional Final). Parker was awarded with the Southeast Conference Coach of the Year, East Region Coach of the Year and NPSL National Coach of the Year honors.
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Prior to arriving in the college game, Parker served as the Director of Coaching for Virginia Soccer Association and as a head coach for the Virginia Development Academy Program. He also worked as the Director of Coaching for Chesterfield United FC and as head coach for the club's women's pre-WPSL team. He has coached numerous athletes to go on to play at the international level including Griffin Yow, who spent time with the U.S. U-20 National Team.
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A two-time All-American and three-year captain at Lees-McRae College, Parker helped the Bobcats capture three regular-season titles and advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament in 2007, last 16 in 2008 and the National Championship Game in 2009. Parker, played 80 matches at Lees-McRae, including a stretch of 72-consecutive starts. In his final season as a Bobcat, Parker led his team to an appearance in the NCAA National Championship match in 2009. In 2022, Parker was inducted to the Lees-McRae College Athletics Hall of Fame for his contributions to the program as part of the 2009 team, and their NCAA Championship run.
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Parker currently holds an A-License from the United States Soccer Federation, which is the highest-level of coaching license one can receive in the U.S. The Worksop, England native also holds qualifications from the World Football Academy and The Football Association (England).
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Parker resides in Morristown, Tenn. with his wife, Hope, and son, Henry.
