Parker will enter her third season as the assistant coach for women's soccer at Lees-McRae in 2017.
“Chelsea was highly recommended to us and this is a great attribute to her character and skills. I am pleased to have her working with Coach (Kiko) Magaña, while developing our young women on and off the pitch,” said McPhail.
Before trekking to Banner Elk, Parker spent the last eight months as a substitute teacher in Richmond, Va. while serving as an assistant coach for the varsity soccer squad at Deep Run High School in Glen Allen, Va.
She gained a plethora of soccer coaching knowledge while at Shorter University in Rome, Ga., where she was the goalkeepers coach and graduate assistant from July 2013-Dec. 2014. Parker earned her master’s in art in leadership at Shorter.
“I am very pleased to have Chelsea join the staff. She brings great energy, drive and determination in developing players and will play a huge role in recruiting,” praised Magaña. “Chelsea is very eager to begin this new chapter in her coaching career and will be a valuable asset to the coaching staff.”
Parker is a graduate of Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, N.C., where she majored in history and double minored in English and women’s studies.
For the Lions, she was a four-year player while serving as captain for two. Parker earned second-team all-conference recognition in the South Atlantic Conference in 2011 and was presented with the SAC Senior Academic Award in 2013.
“I am incredibly thankful for this opportunity at Lees-McRae College. During my time at Mars Hill University, I always enjoyed playing at MC and respected its women’s soccer program,” said Parker. “Coaching women’s college soccer is my dream job and I could not be happier to be here and in a position to coach, but also learn from those around me and build relationships. I am excited about the upcoming season and to coach alongside Kiko.”
Parker is a four-time member of the Dean’s List and was a member of Phi Alpha Theta and Sigma Tau Delta.
She is USSF E and D coaching certified.
