Director
of Coaching: Parker Cowand
Parker grew up in Dallas, Texas and
played in the highly competitive Coca-Cola Classic League. He played youth
soccer for the storied Dallas Titan ’69 soccer team that had an impressive
record of 203-1-2 with their only loss coming in a National Championship
overtime contest in 1987. Parker was coached by Blackpool legend and former
Dallas Tornado (NASL) player/coach Mike Renshaw. In high school, Parker
played for Duncanville High School where he shattered both the school’s
all-time and season scoring records. Parker led the state of Texas in scoring
in his sophomore year by netting 41 goals in 22 games, leading his team to a
state championship appearance. His junior year, he led his team to the state
championship title by scoring a state record 48 goals in 26 games. These were
Parker’s only two years of high school varsity soccer as University
Interscholastic League (UIL) rules would not allow playing both club and high
school soccer in the same year. In 1985, Parker was selected to the United
States Youth National Team which provided him with the experience of playing
with such U.S. soccer legends as Kasey Keller, Tony Meola, Jeff Agoos, Eric
Wynalda and Chad Deering to name just a few. This team went on the represent
the U.S. in the Kodak Cup Youth World Cup in China and continued on to
CONCACAF qualifiers and eventually made up the 1988 Olympic Team. Parker
remained on the National team from 1985 – 1989. Parker was recruited by over
200 colleges and chose Midwestern State University because of his desire to
play for their legendary coach, Howard Patterson. The MSU Indians went on to
a number 1 national ranking highlighted by a 2-1 victory over SMU which
snapped the Mustangs NCAA record 24-game home winning streak. Parker went on
to be a 4-time, 1st team All-America selection (one of only two
unanimous selections) and a Hall of Honor selection through the university.
He also set the school’s all-time single season scoring mark in his sophomore
year.
Parker began coaching when he was 18
years old and was nationally licensed as a teenager. Parker played for,
coached and was the eventual General Manager of the San Antonio Generals of
the USISL. He coached professionally from 1990-2001 and has been a Coaching
Director, Board member, Player Development Director, camp director, college
scout, college coach (Brookhaven College), Olympic Development staff coach,
and a soccer consultant for the past 18 years. Currently, Parker coaches (’95
boys) for the Gorham Youth Soccer Association and acts as the association’s
Player Development Director. Parker is also a Primary in a group of investors
and former U.S. soccer stars (Marcelo Balboa – former World Cup team captain,
Gabe Garcia – former San Jose Earthquake player, and Carlos Garcia – former
D.C. United player) to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to the San
Antonio market by 2012. Parker’s passion for soccer and his love for the
state of Maine, leads him to the adoption of this soccer academy with an
educational/leadership curriculum for the enhancement of Maine soccer players
and the betterment of the Maine soccer community.
