Softball Adds Paige Parker to Coaching Staff
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Softball head coach Amy Hogue announced the hire of Paige Parker as an assistant coach Friday, to coach the team's pitchers. A two-time national champion pitcher at Oklahoma, Parker joins the Utes' coaching staff after spending the 2021 season on the coaching staff at Tulsa.
"I'm extremely proud to announce that Paige Parker will be our new pitching coach," Hogue said. "What an exciting day this is! Paige brings all of the accolades one could receive as a player, and I have no doubt that she will continue to develop into an extremely successful college coach. She comes from a family of coaches, so I feel very honored to have her join our coaching staff. I look forward to seeing her work with our pitchers and help them develop their talent."
Parker joined the Tulsa softball program in July 2020 to mentor the Golden Hurricane pitching staff, and guided her staff to a record of 25-16, as three Tulsa pitchers finished the season with winning records and sub-3.30 ERAs. Chenise Delce led the group with an 8-6 record, landing her on the all-conference first team and NFCA all-region second team. Kassidy Scott tied for second all-time in TU history for career saves with 9 after picking up 2 bigs saves during the 2021 season.
"I would first like to thank Coach Hogue for giving me the opportunity to become a Ute," Parker said. "I am so thrilled to be joining the staff here at the University of Utah. I am looking forward to being a part of such a great program and University, and getting to work this fall! I also want to thank Coach Strimple and Coach Owens at the University of Tulsa for helping me to learn and become a better coach."
Parker joined the Hurricane staff after spending one season at her alma mater, Oklahoma, as a volunteer assistant. During her season with the Sooners, Oklahoma was 20-4 before the season was cut short due to the pandemic, following one year serving as an assistant coach at William Jewel.
Parker played four seasons at Oklahoma, becoming a two-time national champion. During her extraordinary career, she was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team four times, 2016 Female Athlete of the Year and 2015 Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Parker was vital in leading the Sooners to three consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division I Women's College World Series. The pitcher earned All-Tournament team selections in each of the three appearances.
The Sooner finished her career ranked second in Oklahoma history for career win percentage (.872), wins (123), appearances (174), strikeouts (968) and shutouts (37). She ranks fourth all-time in games started (134), innings pitched (867.1), saves (six) and strikeouts per seven innings (7.81).
The Independence, Mo., native played one season with the USSSA Pride in the National Pro Fastpitch league. She helped lead the Pride to the 2018 Cowles Cup Championship, taking home the title.
Parker graduated from Oklahoma with her undergraduate degree in Arts and Sciences with Distinction with an emphasis in Coach and Leadership in 2018.