Susan Parks (1992) - E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame - Eastern Michigan University Athletics

Susan Parks

Induction:
1992
Class:
1980

Earned four varsity letters in both women's track and cross country... Won unofficial Mid-American Conference cross country championships in 1976-77-78 before official MAC status was given to women's teams... Set EMU varsity track records in the 1,000-yard, 880-yard, 15000-meter, mile, two mile, three-mile individual races and as a member of the two-mile relay team... Competed for the United States in the 1971 Pan-American Games in Cali, Columbia in the high jump after winning the USA national championship... Ran for the USA against the USSR in 1972 in Richmond, Virginia on the two-mile relay team which set an American record... Was the first woman to compete in high school track in the state of Michigan when she competed on the boys' team at Ypsilanti H.S. in 1972... Set a women's high school state record in the 880-yard run in 1974... Placed fifth in the state high school championship track meet as a one-person team in 1973... Served as the women's head cross country coach at the University of Michigan from 1984-87 and was the 1986 Big Ten Conference "Coach of the Year"... Also served as the head women's cross country coach at Michigan State University from 1988-90... Was the head women's cross country coach at the University of Arizona from 1990-94 and was selected NCAA Regional "Coach of the Year" in 1992... Became the head women's cross country and track coach at Ball State University in1994 and was named Mid-American Conference "Coach of the Year" seven times and NCAA Regional "Coach of the Year" once in Muncie, Ind...Came back to coach her alma mater in 2006, mentoring the women's cross country and track and field teams...Won five-straight MAC cross country championships (2015-19) and six MAC track and field titles...In Oct. 2020, Parks was named Director/Head Coach of both men's and women's cross country and track and field programs...Became the first female coach in MAC history to coach a men's championship team