PARKS NAMED
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ASSISTANT
HOUGHTON,
N.Y.
– Michael Parks has been named assistant women’s basketball
coach and executive director of the Highlander Sports Associates
at Houghton College, Houghton Athletics Director Skip Lord
announced today.
Parks comes to Houghton from Jamestown Community
College-Cattaraugus Campus, where he had served as head men’s
basketball coach since 2002. He recorded a 35-83 record during
his stint and had particular success recruiting student-athletes
from diverse populations and developing academic study models
for student success. He graduated 85 percent of his
student-athletes, with several making the Dean’s List and the
conference All-Academic Team.
Parks’ business background includes 10 years managing accounts
for CellularOne and Independent Health. He also has served 10
years as an adjunct professor at JCC, where he counseled
students on career decisions, social behavior, and developing
personal strengths.
In his new
position, Parks will assist Coach Lord with the coaching and
administration of the women’s basketball program, oversee
athletics fundraising, and work closely with the admission
office on diversity issues and minority student recruitment.
“We have been privileged to get to know Coach Parks through our
summer basketball camps over the past several years and we are
very excited about being able to add someone of his caliber to
our team. There is no question that he is a perfect fit for this
position,” said Lord, who also serves as head women’s basketball
coach. “He stands for everything that we hold important here at
Houghton. He is a man of faith who demonstrates character in all
he does, he brings good coaching credentials and a commitment to
academic success by student-athletes, and his life experience
and contacts will help us to expand our recruiting efforts.
Plus, his sales background has helped him to develop the
necessary skill set to lead our fundraising efforts.”
“I have known
Skip Lord and [men’s basketball coach] Brad Zarges for a number
of years and had the privilege of working with them during
summer basketball camps at Houghton College, and sharing their
vision for ministering to the whole person through basketball,”
said Parks. “We share many similarities when it comes to our
philosophy about the game of basketball and how it can be used
to affect the young men and women we coach. Houghton College is
a shining example of a school that is living up to its mission
statement by “walking the talk.” I look forward to being a part
of the Houghton family.”