A graduate of L.U. at both the undergraduate (B.Sc. – Kinesiology) and graduate levels (Masters in Human Development), Parker is following very much along the same path as his mentor, the late Dr. Jeno Tihanyi. The pair worked closely together for four years as Parker not only served as an assistant coach but also worked his thesis in studying the development of young swimmers.

While organized hockey trumped competitive swimming during Parker’s days as a youth, this focused young coach is clearly very comfortable around the water. “We lived on a lake, so swimming was always a part of our lives” notes Parker, who spent time as both a life-guard and coach with the Sudbury Laurentian Swim Club while still a student at L.U.

Accepted into Chiropractic College in 1997, Parker opts to remain at Laurentian, a move he maintains was one of the best decisions of his life. Since 2002, Phil Parker has been teaching at the university, working with students in 1st year Anatomy, 2nd year Physiology and 4th year Child Physiology, all areas that dovetail nicely with his role as head coach of the swim team.

Under his watch, the Aqua Vees have produced 7 OUA Champion Gold medal winners, 13 CIS finalists and have celebrated either a Laurentian Male or Female Athlete of the Year winner for the past six years running.

Parker maintains that it’s the challenge that the athletes take to really test and push their limits that allows him to spring out of bed, almost daily, at 4:30 a.m., for the next set of workouts. “There is no pro contract waiting at the end of the line for these kids -
they want to see how fast they can stop that clock.”